My son Lachlan is 2 years old and was diagnosed with severe eczema around the age of 6 months! Tests showed that he was allergic to soy, wheat, egg, beef, lamb and cows milk. Starting him on solids was tough and for a long time he was limited to just fruit and vegetable purees.

He's since outgrown his soy and beef allergy but the others remain! I've learnt that these obstacles are more common than what most people realise and there are a number of products available on the market that can give you substitutes.

Lachie still gets bad eczema but now it's a reaction to extreme heat, grass or pollens - not food! I'm hoping that with the continued care of a great paediatric immunologist and dermatologist we will be eczema and allergy free one day!

Oh and just for the record - my son absolutely thrived on drinking soy milk and yoghurt when cleared of this allergy - he has been having them daily ever since.