Transition to Milk

For medical reasons, my Ped has me switching my twins to milk now at 9 months instead of the usual 1 year. I am posting here as most of you have recently went though this change.

My twins have been exclusively on sippies for about a month now. They have also been very uninterested in drinking and most days only drink 12oz. of formula. This explains the lack of growth between 7 and 9 months. Luckily they are nice healthy babies and this has not hurt them.

They have been on soy formula due to what they thought was first a lactose intolerance and later a milk allergy. Turns out they had reflux and are most likely not allergic to milk or lactose intolerant.

Anyways we decided to start them on lactose free milk as I AM lactose intolerant and if they had a reaction, we would know it was an allergy and not an intolerance. Once they are ok with milk, we will switch to a regular whole milk.

Anyways, we decided to start with DD first as she pretty much hates her formula and I didnt want 2 of them having a bad reaction if they were in fact allergic. I tried giving her straight milk and she HATED that more than formula, so I went with plan B which was adding 1oz. of milk to her formula. I intend to increase the amount each week and make the change over 2 months.

However after only 3 servings with 1 oz. of milk mixed with 5oz. of formula she started with diarrhea. Is this normal and expected, or could this be an allergy?


Thanks

 

Hi Tammi-

I have been following your kiddos in FY. I had 2 with reflux and have posted alot in your posts about my experiences with reflux and a milk allergy. I think I remember you getting a Ped GI finally after alot of issues with your Ped or maybe a new Ped?? If you have a Ped GI I would definitely bring the milk/diarrhea to their attention. According to my PEd GI the diarrhea with some mucous (sorry TMI) is a sure sign of some sort of milk allergy or intolerance. Derek had a milk allergy and he had no dairy until he was about 12 months old and we started with a 10 day yogurt challenge and if no reaction to that (diar) then we could start milk.

But some say that soft stools are normal with the change from formula to milk and they will subside but diarrhea is different. Sorry for the longwinded post!

 

QUOTE(DATJMom @ Apr 13 2008, 09:37 PM) [snapback]720021[/snapback]
Hi Tammi-

I have been following your kiddos in FY. I had 2 with reflux and have posted alot in your posts about my experiences with reflux and a milk allergy. I think I remember you getting a Ped GI finally after alot of issues with your Ped or maybe a new Ped?? If you have a Ped GI I would definitely bring the milk/diarrhea to their attention. According to my PEd GI the diarrhea with some mucous (sorry TMI) is a sure sign of some sort of milk allergy or intolerance. Derek had a milk allergy and he had no dairy until he was about 12 months old and we started with a 10 day yogurt challenge and if no reaction to that (diar) then we could start milk.

But some say that soft stools are normal with the change from formula to milk and they will subside but diarrhea is different. Sorry for the longwinded post!



See, we did a yogurt challenge at 6 months and that went ok. They have been eating yogurt and cheese pretty much since 6 months with no real problem. We see the GI in a couple weeks, so I will definately bring it up. He definately is on board with the switch to milk. They feel DD especially has developed an oral aversion hence the reason we have moved to a cup and now milk. Hopefully some of the changes will help her.

To this day she puts nothing in her mouth on her own. Not toys, not food, not anything.

I am wondering if it is just soft stools. She had about 4 today but it was not constant and she always poops a lot. I guess we will see.


Thanks so much for all the advice. Something I feel like I am sinking with all these reflux complications!

 

Mine went from bfing to whole milk, but both of mine had very runny/diarrhea stools when we switched. We started with 3oz's a day for about 2 weeks then went to 6oz's then finally to 10oz's. I would say about 1 month after starting on some whole milk the diarrhea went away.

HTH

 

Well I guess if you did the yogurt challenge and she can have yogurt and dairy then I guess I would still mention it to the GI but maybe it will get better in a couple of days and its not a milk allergy. Good luck!