Ultimate tips for weaning your baby with Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy
Starting solids can feel tricky to navigate at the best of times, but when your baby has a cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA), it can add an extra layer of worry and confusion. From checking labels to finding suitable alternatives, many parents understandably feel overwhelmed. The good news? With the right information and planning, weaning can still be a positive, stress-free experience for you and your little one. Here are allergy dietitian Lucy Upton’s top tips for weaning your baby milk-free.
- Focus on what your baby can eat
With an allergy diagnosis comes a whole new world of avoidance and ‘can’t haves’, but for babies with Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy, there are many foods they can have. I often help parents split these down by food groups, e.g.
- Fruits and vegetables – almost all are suitable for a baby with milk allergy. Just be careful, any pre-prepared jars or pouches of fruits and vegetables don’t contain milk.
- Protein-rich foods – such as meats, fish, eggs, beans, and pulses – are nutrient-dense and suitable for babies with milk allergies. Be mindful of any coated meat or fish products or pre-made meals containing added milk.
- Carbohydrates – Many simple carbohydrate foods like rice, grains, potatoes, and yams are naturally milk-free. Options such as noodles and pasta are also typically milk-free. Just be sure to check the ingredients of bread items particularly carefully.
- Suitable milk alternatives – More on these below
- Offer plenty of variety – don’t get stuck in the three-day rule
When your child has food allergies, it’s understandable to want to take things slowly – and it’s common to see advice online suggesting you introduce one new food every three days. While a more cautious approach is certainly wise when introducing common allergens, there’s usually no need to apply this rule to all new foods. In fact, being overly restrictive can actually reduce the variety in your baby’s diet and variety during weaning plays an important role. Research has shown that a diverse diet in infancy can help lower the risk of developing further allergies, support feeding skills, and promote a healthy gut microbiome.
- Get to grips with the right milk alternatives.
You can start using milk alternatives for babies with CMPA in their food from six months of age. It’s essential to consider the nutritional content of these, as they need to meet the high nutrient demands of your growing baby. With this in mind, focus on those based on soya, oat, pea, or coconut – avoiding rice milk alternatives for children under five years or nut-based milk alternatives, which are typically very low in calories. Choose milk alternative options with an energy content of>45-50 calories per 100mls, and added vitamins and minerals – particularly calcium, iodine and B12. Remember, lactose-free milk alternatives are not suitable for babies with CMPA.
- Get going with other food allergens.
If your baby already has a food allergy, the temptation is to steer clear of other common allergens – just to play it safe. However, research now clearly shows that one of the best things you can do during weaning is to crack on and introduce these foods (like egg, peanut, sesame, and others) early and regularly. Doing so helps reduce the risk of developing further allergies and also helps to liberalise your child’s diet. Remember, avoiding common food allergens can leave the door open for food allergies to develop. If you’d like support with introducing these, speak to a health professional, or explore evidence-based resources such as books written by medical and allergy professionals.
- Get familiar with food labels – every label, every time
While many foods that your baby can eat are naturally milk-free, the reality is that milk can be present in a wide range of packaged foods, including baby foods. Be sure to check the ingredients list of every packaged item you choose for your baby, and remember to recheck each time, as manufacturers often change their ingredients. Milk is a common allergen, so it will always be listed clearly, for example, inbold on an ingredient list if any component of the food contains milk.