Substitute for cheese and yoghurt (or anything containing cow's milk)

valeriemh · #1 (**permalink**) 02-04-08, 03:37

Hi all,

My baby has been on solids for a month now.

He seems to have an allergic reaction to baby yoghurt. Having spoken to our nurse, she feels that it is an allergy. The only sugestion was to hold off till he is older.

However, I'd like to feed him yoghurt and prepare food with cheese sauces etc...

Is it alright to give him yoghurt made from goat's milk?
What can I use as a cheese substitute (if there is one?)

Thanks all!
Valerie

noababy · #2 (**permalink**) 02-04-08, 06:58

Welcome btw!

Goat's milk is a substitute for cow's milk.

I know there is tofu cheese but do not know if that is appropriate for your baby's age.

Batmum may be able to give you more advice as her son also has allergies.

valeriemh · #3 (**permalink**) 02-04-08, 11:46

Thanks Noababy!

Ellie H · #4 (**permalink**) 02-04-08, 14:17

Bumping up for Batmum....maybe she can help?

xxxxxxxxx

batmum · #5 (**permalink**) 02-04-08, 14:42

Na na na na, na na na na BATMUM! POW!

Firstly, how old is your LO? Secondly, if your HV thinks he may have an allergy to milk, you need to ask GP for a referral to a pediatric allergist. The referrals can take up to 3 mos and best to get this underway. Any problems with other milk products so far? What are the symptoms of the yogurt reaction? Do you breast feed or is he on formula. Please send any and all info, I'll try to tell you as best I can what I've found out from my own son's experience.

Do not try goats milk until you get to the bottom of this. You can try soy yogurt, depending on age. But be very careful, many babies who are allergic to milk are also allergic to soy.

jj2005 · #6 (**permalink**) 08-04-08, 11:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by batmum

Na na na na, na na na na BATMUM! POW!

Firstly, how old is your LO? Secondly, if your HV thinks he may have an allergy to milk, you need to ask GP for a referral to a pediatric allergist. The referrals can take up to 3 mos and best to get this underway. Any problems with other milk products so far? What are the symptoms of the yogurt reaction? Do you breast feed or is he on formula. Please send any and all info, I'll try to tell you as best I can what I've found out from my own son's experience.

Do not try goats milk until you get to the bottom of this. You can try soy yogurt, depending on age. But be very careful, many babies who are allergic to milk are also allergic to soy.

Hi, I am new to this site, but I also have a son who has a milk allergy. It took the docs along time to agree with me that there was something going on, but he is fed on Neocate formula, and is doing very well as regards his weaning. I started him at about 5.5 months. I would also like to know of any good subsitutes for milk, cheese, cream etc as I am finding it hard to be creative with his meals. I use Pure which is dairy free, and he has had abit of soy yoghurt but think he maybe allergic to this, and I have a dairy free cheese, but it is awful to use as it doesn't melt like normal cheese. I have used both rice milk and oat milk but its not the same. I know my son doesn't know any better, but if I am to cook these meals eventually for my whole family, I want them to taste good. My son is now coming up to 8 months. Any suggestions would be great. Many thanks.

batmum · #7 (**permalink**) 08-04-08, 11:34

My best advice is adjust the way you cook. There's just no way around it. If you're serious about beating the allergy, you need to cut out everything, now. I have a friend whose LO has a milk allergy, so she doesn't give him cow's milk straight, but he's eating choccie mousse pots, cheese, etc. And she wonders why he's still sick... If the aim is to eventually get to a point where LO can have small amounts of dairy, there's no other way to do it except cut it ALL for a few years. Then, in time, the hope is that they are able to digest it when they are older...

Sorry if that's not much help.

I agree that Pure is nice, i even like it on my bread! I use rice and soy milk, and Pure, if I'm baking something special. I also use rice/soy milk for things like eggy bread. I saw something in the store the other day called Oatley, which is thick and can substitute for cream, but not sure if that's in cooking or just for drizzling over desserts. Basically I just came to terms with the idea that we wouldn't use dairy. I use olive oil. I don't do cream or cheese sauces. I do give a bit of soy yogurt, but don't often cook with it. As many who are allergic to milk also have issues with soy, I wouldn't be surprised if you LO does have problems with the soy yogurt, as you say. Soy cheese is pants to cook with, don't even bother!!! In the States they have a larger variety of soy cheese (even mozzarella) and it's a bit better, but here the only one I can find (and that's only at the LARGE Waitrose further from my house) is just gross.

It's a hard change, but you will get used to it. In fact, I didn't even use the Pure until a few months ago. I just never used spreads for my LO. So now, he thinks it's a nice novelty, but is happy to eat bread without anything on it. And that really is healther, in the long run, allergies or no allergies...

jj2005 · #8 (**permalink**) 09-04-08, 07:27

Thanks for your reply batmum, thought you would say what you did ! I just hoped there might be some better products out there ! I actually brought a book recently from the book people about cooking for allergies and its meant to help you adapt reciepes so hopefully it will be a help and inspiration. Thanks again !

batmum · #9 (**permalink**) 17-04-08, 22:12

I have to say that I really had a lightbulb over the head moment one day when I realized that maynaisse doesn't contain milk!!! (Well, most of them don't, but still check the label). That opened up a lot of avenues for us, especially since he's a toddler now and I have a really hard time with sandwich fillings. So wanted to pass it on to you, it's obvious but it still took me a while before it clicked...

And an update on my friend whose LO also has allergy: she finally cut out ALL dairy, every bit, and he is worlds better, even gained two pounds in two weeks, eczema clearing up and also he used to be horribly picky eater and suddenly is trying new things. Crazy how something like milk protein could affect so many things, but it does for some kids (like ours)...

We are a few days away from trying cows milk with our LO. we have to do it before he is two. I am really dreading it.

missusbeavis · #10 (**permalink**) 21-09-10, 14:37

Hello
Im new to this site but saw your post and so nice to know there are others like my wee one. She is on Neocate too and is doing well, I have been using this to add to porridge which she seems to love.
When I was breastfeeding I had to cut out all dairy which I found very hard being a cheese lover, but found dairy free cheese granules to make cheese sauce, and dairy/egg free mayo and Oatly milk (even a choc variety!) tastes ok better than rice dream.
My wee one had severe reaction to Aptimal and due to my own egg and nut allergy (anaphylatic) we are still being advised to stay away from all soya, wheat, egg, nuts and milk, so wee one is on fruit ,veg and a little protein.
Hope you find substitutes tesco and sainsbury are really good!