[samanthasmom]

I took my dd (4mos) to the pedi because of blood in her stools. She has also been very gassy and uncomfortable stooling. So I am going to eliminate dairy from my diet to see if that helps. I have already gotten so many comments, and its only been 1 day! like "just put her on formula and be done with it", "why put yourself thru that?" etc... why is it so hard to realize that i would rather not eat dairy so she can breastfeed? that the benifits of bfing for my dd far outway the inconvience to me. isn't that what being a mom means? putting her first? grrr, so frusturating!

:

 

[adoremybabe]

Some people are so good at taking the easy way out. In my opinion it's not that hard to eliminate dairy and you are doing it for the best reason! I had to refrain from dairy due to candida but would have also done it in an instant if my little one was affected by it. I have a friend whose 4 week old seems to be having BM problems and she is going to eliminate dairy for a few weeks to see what happens. I give you props for staying away from the pressures of pro formula feeders!

 

[wonderwahine]

I just hard to go completly dairy free for ds as well......its hard but you can do it

try posting for dairy free support on the allergie and also the nutrition and eating forums.

 

[winnie]

I'm a vegetarian, and have now eliminated dairy in hopes that it will help DS. I actually don't know if it is...at first I thought so, but now I have no idea. It's so hard to tell with other factors like teething going on!

Just wanted to say that at first I found it difficult, but now I barely have to think about it. I have been making my own baked goods etc for quite a while because DH doesn't eat eggs, so now I just substitute rice milk for the milk in recipes. Rice milk is so much tastier than soy milk, in my opinion, it's even good just to drink or put on cereal.

Try not to worry about what others say. Who knows what's best for you and your baby? You!!

winn

 

[vermontgirl]

I cant say i am completely dairy free because i do eat cabot cheddar occasionally(no lactose), but i mostly avoid it. It is actually very simple to do and i enjoy it. I drink soy milk, eat soy yoghurt, soy butter, soy icecream (when the moment arises) and i have TONS of breastmilk for my son.
I dont know why people think it is so hard. It is definately important to continue breastfeeding no matter what you have to do. I dont know why people think formula is just as good. Dont listen to anyones comments. They are thoughtless comments. I am sure you will do just fine with a dairy-free diet.

 

[runes]

don't people even realize that most formulas are dairy based?

: and the ones that are soy based can cause problems of their own?

mama, hang in there. you can do it and by continuing to breastfeed you are giving a wonderful gift to your baby.

 

[papayapetunia]

Hey, I know it's hard. I'm a cheese addict. I have decided to try to go vegan for a month just to see if I can do it. I think that it might be kind of like meat, how after a while you don't really miss it. I know that there are a lot of good dairy substitutes these days. They have improved tremendously in the past few years. You should check out this really cute blog: http://veganlunchbox.blogspot.com/ and read beyond the first page. She's mostly doing sumer salads right now, but there a whole year's worth of lunches that she packed for her 8-year-old son that are pretty incredible. One of my favorite things she made was a little faux cheesecake. She used silken tofu, coconut milk and some cornstarch for the filling. It tasted wonderful.

Anyway, good luck to you. You'll never regret it. You would only have regret if you stopped breastfeeding.

 

[babywolverine]

I read on kellymom.com that babies that are sensitive to dairy are often sensitive to goat and sheep milk and also to soy

: Has anyone found this to be true? I am having a hard time finding products that are both dairy and soy-free.

 

[forest~mama]

It's ok mama~kudos to you for not taking the formula way out. I had to quit dairy when dd was a bitty thing. It was not terribly hard for me because I used to be mostly dairy free, years ago. I do love cheese though.

The hardest thing I think, is that you have a new baby, and you have to rethink your eating choices. When I sit down to make a food list, easy stuff comes to mind-most of it dairy. Then I have to sit and think hard(this is difficult most days)and browse for recipes. It is difficult, but lots of mamas do it, and get through it. You are a great mama for trying to figure out what you can do to make baby feel better, and still give her the best food possible.

 

[melamama]

good luck. I've been dairy free for about 4.5 months--ds was very unhappy when I had it in the beginning. Still if I have a little with something in it(like even butter) I will get completely spit up all over.

It is hard, but I would never consider switching to ff because of it. I know what you mean about people being clueless about a baby's needs.

One thing--I'd be cautious if you're going to use soy (I don't know how true this is) but I've heard that if you go dairy free right to soy milk your body treats the soy in the same way as the dairy-so your dd's body could react in the same way. So you would be best off if you went all dairy free for a week or so, then if you wanted to add soy milk to add it then.

I try to limit my soy intake, but I do have goat and sheep milk products occasionally and ds has no problems.

 

[LovinLiviLou]

Just wanted to send some support your way! I just cut out diary 5 weeks ago, things got better, but not all the way, so then I started a total elim diet a week later. Wow - life is sooooooo much better now (so much less screaming and laundry)! I found that my little one was very reactive to soy, too, so we're dairy and soy (and egg and wheat and banana and apple . . . ) free. It was hard at first, but I'm figuring out tricks (like Spectrum shortening made from palm oil and ener-g egg replacer). Also - check out www.foodyoucaneat.com. It lets you build a profile of what you can't eat and then filters recipes to only show you things you can have.

On the formula help that people try to advance - I just always say "well it's a good thing I'm breastfeeding since she can't have anything that formula is made from." That usually shuts them up pretty quick (ok, so there are really expensive formulas that don't have soy or dairy, but most folks espousing the formula route don't even know that!)

 

[Amila]

I am a vegetarian, and have not eaten too much dairy for the past year (except cheese! And butter at restaurants) My DD is having gas problems as well as eczema, so I have been dairy-free completely for the past five days. It is rough, but I try to think of it like this- dairy is so bad for you anyway, it is worth it, and there is no better incentive than the health of your child. Some recommendations:

Butter: Soy Garden- tastes soooo good and isn't hydrogenated!
Substitute for cereal: Almond Breeze Original
Half and Half- Silk creamer
Ice cream- Pure decadence
Parmesean cheese- walnuts, sea salt, and nutritional yeast blended in a food processor

Hopefully that will help you get by!

 

[thomlynn]

You're doing such a wonderful thing for your baby.

Good luck, you can do it!!!!

 

[broodymama]

It can be a big change, going dairy free! My DS was sensitive to dairy and soy until he was 16 months (and even now at 23 months can't deal with too much dairy directly, but the amount that he gets through my milk doesn't bother him). My DD (one month old today) also started showing signs of dairy & soy sensitivities so I am once again on a dairy/soy-free diet.

Sure, it's an inconvenience but in the big scheme of things not really that big of a deal for me to go dairy & soy free for the next few years. Assuming DD nurses until she is at least 3 (and if she doesn't outgrow the sensitivities before she weans) that would mean 5 years dairy & soy free, not really that big a portion of my life.

Oh, and Rice Dream makes an "ice cream" that is dairy and soy free. Is it as good as real ice cream? No, but after a year of NO ice cream it tastes pretty good, especially with Hershey's syrup.

 

[heather_c]

I have been dairy-free since my DS was 4 months. His eczema and vomiting/spitting up cleared up within 2 days. It was very drastic, and he was like a new baby. It has been hard, but I do not really miss it now. BTW, it has been a great way to lose some pregnancy pounds as dairy is really calorie dense.

You can do it!

 

[turniptruk]

I've been mostly dairy free for 4 months. I say mostly because I am not super super careful - especially recently. I had a few carrots dipped in blue cheese dressing, or some ranch dressing. I've also had bites of my dh's iced cream. I hate to admit this but I stole some cheddar from my 1 year old nephew's lunch the day I was babysitting him (I had to!!). None of these bits have had any noticable effect on Evan. However, the day I had 2 cups of tea with milk--- yikes did that make a miserable babe!

I use soy in my tea and on cereal, etc. I've found a good soy "cheese" that is great on crackers & grilled cheese. Soy iced cream -- not so yummy-- so I eat strawberry popsicles.

The change in Evan after I cut out milk has been amazing. People comment on how happy he is - rather than how good his lungs are

I have also cut out chocolate & tomatoes because it makes Evan have a diaper rash. I have been ok with a couple squares of choc. or a bit of tomato from the garden.

 

[kitchenwitch]

I like soy milk and yougart... I think its yummy! I don't think I could give up cheese though!
Good Luck

 

[maylanna]

Quote:

Originally Posted by babywolverine I read on kellymom.com that babies that are sensitive to dairy are often sensitive to goat and sheep milk and also to soy : Has anyone found this to be true? I am having a hard time finding products that are both dairy and soy-free.

I found this to be true with my DD. I did an elimination diet to figure out what she was allergic to. Dairy and soy both had to go. i was soy free for 5 months, but have slowly reintroduced minimal amounts with no negative reactions. It is VERY hard to find foods that are both dairy and soy free if you are trying to buy prepared foods. I resorted to making everything myself from scratch.

i actually began shedding the prego lbs when i stopped eating so much darn cheese!

other people do have such a hard time understanding that it is a small sacrifice for a limited time for lasting benefits to the wonderful person you are feeding. People constantly tell me that no way would they put up with that, like it's the child's fault or something.

i just smile and think "what an ignorant and selfish person."
Hang in there!

there are lots of us going through it too!

 

[wonderwahine]

some babies are allergic to both dairy and goats.....the protiens are similar. Soy can be a common allergy for lots of babys.....rice is a good alternative, they have rice milk, and other stuff. If theres no nut allergies in your family you can try the nut alternatives like almond milk and hazelnut etc.

I wouldnt cut out soy as an option until you're sure of an allergy.

 

[Hevyne]

I have been dairy free for 3 months now and it is hard but feasible, especially for a cheese lover like me. I also had to stop my prenatals b/c of the iron. But I live in a soy world and it is not so bad. The Tofutti ice cream sandwiches are really yummy, and the Silk coffee creamer isn't so bad. I can't seem to find the french vanilla creamer anymore so I mix vanilla rice milk and silk creamer together and it is pretty good. Be careful of products with whey and casein in it b/c those are milk derivitives. I have been losing preg pounds too from this diet so there is an upside. Plus
i don't eat out anymore b/c of the diet so that helps shed those lbs. too!!