Bottle feeding a baby allergic to cow's milk
Infants should be exclusively breastfed or formula fed for the first 6
months of life, after which complementary foods can be introduced, although
breast milk or formula is still the main drink. If you are bottle-feeding a
baby who is allergic to cow's milk protein, your doctor may recommend a
hypoallergenic formula without cow's milk protein.
Highly hydrolyzed formulas: About 90% of
infants with cow's milk protein allergy can tolerate highly hydrolyzed formulas.
Although they are made from cow's milk, so their nutritional content is the
same as regular infant formula, they are largely broken down into tiny pieces
so the baby's immune system is less receptive to recognizing the protein. There
are a number of products available and your doctor or nutritionist can
recommend the right one for your child.
Amino acid formulas: If your child has
problems with hydrolyzed formula or has severe symptoms, an amino acid formula
may be recommended. A range of products are available and your doctor or
nutritionist can recommend the right one for your child.
Can I give my baby other types of milk?
There are different types of milk, but it should not be assumed that
they are suitable for infants or children who are allergic to cow's milk.
Soy formulas are available for children with milk intolerance, but
children allergic to cow's milk may also react to soy. Therefore, a preparation
without milk or soy is the best choice. But soy formula can be given to a child
from 6 months if the allergist has determined that the baby is not allergic to
soy. Since soy formulas often contain added glucose syrup as a sweetener, if
you are giving soy formula to your child, be sure to take care of their teeth.
Dairy products from other animals such as goats, sheep, buffaloes and
horses should not be given to a child who is allergic to cow's milk protein.
The proteins in their milk are similar to cow's milk, so they can also cause a
reaction.
Soy, oat, coconut, and plant-based milk substitutes are not suitable as
a substitute for baby food, but they can be given to children over 2 years old,
and rice milk can be used when they are 4 and a half years old. Look for calcium fortified brands.