Cow’s milk protein allergy is the most commonly occurring allergy in children. An allergic reaction to cow’s milk or dairy products can occur in a matter of minutes, or even after a few days. Symptoms can include cramps, diarrhoea, vomiting, a skin rash or breathing difficulties.

If your baby is sensitive to cow’s milk based infant formula, consult your doctor who might recommend a soy-based formula. However, some babies who are allergic to cow’s milk are also allergic to soymilk and for those babies there are a number of hypoallergenic milk formulas. Breast milk is the best alternative for babies who are allergic to cow’s milk, but mothers may need to limit dairy foods themselves as these can be transferred to their baby through breast milk.

All dairy products including cheese, yoghurt, butter, ice cream etc. must be eliminated from the diet if your child has a cow’s milk protein allergy. Milk-free vegetable or soy margarine may be substituted for butter, there are also many soy based (non-dairy) yoghurts and desserts available and carob can be substituted for milk chocolate. It’s important to ensure that your child gets enough calcium in his diet.

Ways to give your child calcium without milk:

• Give your child plenty of green vegetables like broccoli and cabbage

• The soft bones in canned fish, such as sardines are an excellent source of calcium

• Tofu which is made from soy beans is an excellent source of calcium

• Dried figs are a good source of calcium.

Allergy to cow’s milk occurs mainly in pre-school children. It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of sufferers outgrow the problem between 3 to 5 years of age.

Check labels, milk proteins tend to be listed as casein, whey or lactate.