5 Tips for Dairy-Free Weaning
The introduction of solid foods to your baby is an exciting milestone in their development (although some can find it quite daunting). For parents choosing a dairy-free approach, whether due to allergies, intolerances, or personal preferences, it's important to ensure your little one receives varied nutrition during the weaning process covering all the nutritional bases needed! However, for those weaning a baby with allergies, it can be a worrying time with a great deal of conflicting advice and so I hope that these 5 tips will help make dairy-free weaning an enjoyable experience.
*Remember weaning is not just about nutrition it is a multi-sensory experience!
1. Consult with you GP, Paediatrician or Dietitian:
Before embarking on a dairy-free weaning journey, it is important to consult with a healthcare professional. They can provide expert advice tailored to your child's specific needs. A paediatrician or registered dietitian will help ensure that your child receives all the necessary nutrients, vitamins, and minerals typically found in dairy products. They can also guide you in selecting suitable alternatives to meet your child's nutritional requirements and developmental stage. Please check the credentials of whoever you are taking advice from – anyone can train as a nutritionist with a short course, but a registered dietician has formal qualifications and adheres to strict regulations* It can sometimes be difficult to obtain an appointment with a paediatrician and waiting lists can be long. Dr Rosan Meyer Paediatric Dietician has created a really informative, evidence-based webinar on “Introducing solids to a child with allergy”, that is well worth the watch and is very reasonably priced:
Dr Helen Evans-Howells also runs a great allergy support group and has regular talks from guest experts including dieticians so this can be a really affordable way to get some additional support if a dietician referral is tricky or slow.
https://drhelenallergy.co.uk/membership/
2. Introduce Nutrient-Rich Alternatives:
Dairy products are a significant source of calcium and vitamin D, alongside other nutrients such as protein and fats. When removing dairy from your baby's diet it's crucial to introduce alternative sources of these nutrients. Not all fortified plant-based milks are a suitable alternative so it is really important to get professional advice before replacing breastfeeding or infant formula with one of these milks. Vitamin D can be obtained from exposure to sunlight, but it may be necessary to supplement so once again ask for guidance on this and any supplements that may be needed from your health care provider. The British Dietetic Association has a really useful factsheet on Calcium:
https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/calcium.html
During weaning, it's important to introduce a wide range of foods to expose your child to different tastes, textures, and nutrients. Remember that weaning is not just about nutrition it is also a multi-sensory experience, so think about the colours, smells and textures of food that you are offering. You may be advised to introduce certain foods in a certain order, depending on the type of allergy your child has, and don’t be surprised if it is suggested that you introduce certain allergens early on – I would strongly suggest you seek the advice of a health care professional to be able to guide you in these introductions, they may suggest to introduce new foods gradually and watch for any signs of allergies or sensitivities.
3. Read Labels Carefully:
When purchasing packaged foods, always read the labels diligently. Dairy derivatives can be present in unexpected places, so be vigilant for ingredients such as whey, casein, lactose, or any other milk-derived products. Familiarize yourself with alternative names for dairy ingredients to ensure that the products you choose are truly dairy-free. Allergy UK has some really useful information including a list of ‘ingredients’ to look out for:
https://www.allergyuk.org/resources/cows-milk-free-diet-information-for-babies-and-children/
Unfortunately, labelling mistakes are made and you can sign up for the Allergy UK alert system that sends you and email when there is a reported labelling error. Recipes also change from time to time so I would encourage you to regularly check the labels of foods that you habitually use in case there is a recipe change. This practice will help you avoid accidental exposure to allergens or substances your child is sensitive to.
4. Seek Support and Recipe Inspiration:
Embarking on a dairy-free weaning journey can be challenging, but you are not alone. Connect with other parents who have gone through a similar experience or join online communities and support groups. These communities can provide invaluable advice, tips, and emotional support. Additionally, there are numerous dairy-free recipe blogs, cookbooks, and online resources available that can help you create delicious and nutritious meals for your little one.
¶Caution, know yourself, for some people social media groups and forums can be a source of overwhelm and/or anxiety, they can make you feel you are not doing enough or make you worry even more. If this is the case the remove yourself from them. Whilst they can be a useful source of information (although caution as there is a lot of mis-information out there too) they are not indispensable.
You do not need to be a domestic whizz to be able to navigate dairy free weaning, often you can really simply and easily adjust your own family favourites by using dairy free alternatives.
If your child has been diagnosed with an Ige- mediated cow’s milk allergy then you may have been prescribed an Adrenaline Autoinjector (often referred to as an Epipen – put there are other brands including Jext and Ananpen.) This can be an added source of anxiety, if you are feeling overwhelmed then speak to your GP about getting some support for yourself. Many paediatric first aid courses also have a section on using an adrenaline auto-injector and so doing one of these courses may be reassuring for you, and they also cover choking which is often another concern of parents (of all children, not just children with allergies) during the weaning process.
5. Eat with your child and move on to lumps and finger foods as soon as you can from 6 months old.
This tip goes for all weaning journeys but I feel it is so important. Children learn best from mirroring and so watching you, eating with you, is a great learning tool for a child. Children are more likely to eat a wider variety of foods if you do so yourself and if you sit down and eat with them. Mealtimes are not just about the food; they are also about the social interaction and taking a few minutes to all sit down together and share that moment is really important. As soon as your child is ready (as long as they are over 6 months old) then introduce some finger foods (your health care provider may suggest delaying the introduction of finger foods or lumpy foods if your child has certain health concerns) and move away from really pureed foods to mashed or lumpy foods sooner rather than later.
Weaning your baby onto a dairy-free diet may require a bit of extra planning and attention, but I hope that these 5 tips have provided some helpful information to support you in this journey. Remember to seek professional advice, offer nutrient-rich alternatives, introduce a variety of foods, read labels carefully and try and enjoy the process, remembering it is a multi-sensory experience!
*This information is specific to the UK.
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Last updated: 01.12.2023
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