I posted a question a couple of weeks ago about my 13 month old daughter's allergy to cow's milk and received several responses with some great advice. Thank you :0)
I have another question now, though. Some of the responses cautioned about giving too much soy milk so now I'm worried about that. I'm still nursing my daughter, so she gets only about 4 sippy cups of soy milk a week since I work only 2 days a week and nurse her while I'm home and before and after work. But I have been giving her veggie (soy) hot dogs and tofu on a regular basis since the only type of meat we eat is fish. In addition, I want to stop giving her water during mealtimes and start giving her milk with meals so that she'll get used to that. And of course, when I eventually wean her, her intake of soy milk we go up A LOT.
I received some recommendations to try rice milk, but when I went to the grocery store to buy it, the box said that it shouldn't be given to children under the age of 5 years and to check with the doctor. Well, unfortunately, I don't have much confidence in my daughter's pediatrician and am considering getting a new one so I don't really want to ask him.
Do any of you know why rice milk should not be given to children younger than 5? And if your children drink it, how old were they when they started? Do you think that soy products are really that bad/unhealthy?
Yes, but...
There is not enough fat in rice milk. You need to add the fat until she turns 2. For every 16 oz of milk, you add 1/2 teaspoon of Carlson's Fish Oil and 1 teaspoon flax seed oil.
My son is on a rice based formula using the above recipe plus a tablespoon of rice protein and a serving of children's vitamin added to 1 bottle/cup.
My daughter is 25 months and has been on rice milk since she was 17 months when we figured out that horrible eczema (scratching till she bled) she had was due to a milk allergy (she also has eczema to eggs, and allergies to peants - anaphylactic, fish - unknown reaction, and cats and dogs). We tried soy milk but she wouldn't take it -- even the vanilla or with chocolate syrup. So, we tried Rice Milk (brand is Rice Dream - organic whole milk-type version, not reduced fat). It does say not to use as an infant formula -- that is the only warning I believe. It is vitamin and calcium fortified. She thrives that is for sure :) I was concerned about giving her too much soy anyway. She eats soy yogurt (Soy Live is a version sold at Jewel that contains NO MILK PRODUCTS -- you have to watch as a ton of the soy cheeses and yogurts contain milk or milk cultures...so stupid!). I heard that soy can react like estrogen in large amounts and cause premature puberty in a girl or other issues with boys...so I just try to make sure she doesn't eat TOO much.
Also- are you vegan or vegetarian? If not, there are some really great turkey hot dogs that are nitrate free (apple something is the brand I believe) available through peapod. Much easier to decrease the soy amount if you aren't always doing tofu too! Good luck!
Let me clarify Jen's recommended dosage of flax oil. Kids under 2 can receive about 1-1/2 tsp of flax oil per day. For every 8oz of rice milk you can add a 1/2 tsp of flax oil and add 1/4 tsp of Nordic Naturals Child's DHA to get the extra fat that is missing. Flax oil is a much healthier fat than cow's milk fat anyways. My peditrician was fine that I began giving my daughter rice milk at 1yrs old with the added fat. You can add coconut milk which has lauric acid, the same fat found in breastmilk. You can now purchase half gallons of coconut milk at Whole Foods, I will give my 2yr old about 1/4c-1/2c per day with her rice milk. I will make smoothies for her to get the extra nourishment in the mornings, it is easy and she gets some fruit. I do add protein powder, about a tsp of Nutribiotics Rice Protein powder for ever 6oz of milk to up the protein. My daughter is lean and taller than most kids and she eats a very clean and low sugar diet.
You can find rice milk cheapest at Trader Joe's, the blue and white container, MUCH cheaper than Dominick's, Jewel, and Whole Foods.
Good luck!
J. W. MPH
Maternal and Child Health Educator
Chicago Examiner Family Health Expert
http://www.examiner.com/x-7158-Chicago-Family-Health-Exam...
we started at 9 months, doc didn't say much about it. just try and make sure you give your child good fat like avocados and sunlight for real D. This box is a disclaimer, but its obviously a better choice than the alternatives.
I heard goat milk is an option but expensive and hard to find, and if allergic to dairy may also be allergic to goat.
I don't know about adding fat back into soy or rice milk and the advise you have recieved sound great, but check with your ped.before adding supplements to your childs diet. My dr. was not concerned about the lower fat content since my child was getting fat from other places, like cheese and yogurt (try adding one more serving to make put for the less fat in the milk). Too much soy is not bad and your child might outgrow the allergy soon. My daughter did but it took a good 6 mos to transition her from soy to cows milk (didn't like the taste).
Hi J.. I'm one of the women who responded to you originally. I recommended almond milk and am a die hard believer in not too much soy. Like I said, you can't avoid it and it does have its benefits but it should be limited in women - esp those who are young or reaching puberty, those who are menopausal and those with estrogen responsive cancer. Funny thing, we are the only country that doesn't ferment their soy milk. All other countries do and that fermented form does not have the same properties (estrogen imotating) as non-fermented does.
Anyhow, as far as I know almond milk is perfectly fine to give to young chilren. My neice who's lactose intolerant has been drinking it since she was itty bitty. I like the one you can get from Trader Joes, it's not sweetend and vanilla flavored. It's as close to milk as you can get as far as sugar and calories is concerned. Plus spend a little time researching the benefits of almonds. They are very high in antioxidants and many valuable nutrients. Unfortunatley, rice and rice milk can't say the same. So she would be getting a healthful drink, chocked full of nutrients, low in fat and sugar and obviously better for her than cow's milk.
BTW - I applaud you for being your daughter's advocate. Doctors are said to PRACTICE medicine for a reason. Remember, you know your child better than anyone and I'm so happy to see you're following your instinct. I have met so many parents that do whatever they're told "because the doctor said so" even if their instinct was telling them something different. I'm not saying doctors can't be trusted or know nothing. I'm just saying they don't always get it right every time. Best wishes you and your little one!
