So, what's the deal with dairy?

Sarah - The only issue with using Europe as a comparison is that they don't pasturise and homogenise ALL their milk like we do. Many cheese are made form raw milk, many people still drink raw milk. Their butters are made from raw milk for a large part. (and they dont all get sick from eating untreated milk either ;) lol)

That true LimeSlice it's a bit insane we don't have the option here - and unless you're pregnant or have immune-deficiencies then I agree the risks of raw milk are negligible. But they do seem determined to pump chemicals, GM, add hormones or do something weird in as much of our foods as they can :rolleyes: (Sorry Heaven for getting sidetracked)

Sas and fermentation is used frequently. Thus they don't have the issues. :yeahthat: Wot Lime said...

We really in Australia have adopted the eating styles of many cultures but not in it's purist form... So, it does make it more tricky to compare I think. :hug:

WRT the comment about formulas being dairy: It's also worth bearing in mind that many leading allergists consider the introduction of dairy based formulas, particularly in the first 4 months, to be the single biggest risk factor (after genetics) for allergies. There are certainly other risk factors too, and it's not so cut and dried that you could say no formula, no allergies, however the risk has been shown to increase by around 2 1/2 times if dairy formula is introduced within the first 4 months. To me this is a sign that introducing dairy is something that should be carefully considered and not rushed.

:yeahthat: Thanks Manta :D

ETA I was going to give you rep points MR, but it says I can't give a post rep points twice??? Pretty sure I didn't do it already :lol:

:yeahthat: Manta - you always say things so eloquently...xxx

Both of my girls have allergies to dairy. My DD1 who had formula introduced at a young age (10 weeks) even at a bottle a day, has a more severe allergy than my DD2 who has never had a drop of cows milk. DD2 is 3 in a few months and doesn't react with a small amount of dairy at all, but if she has more she does. DD1 will react to a milk arrowroot biscuit with diarhoea for 24 hours afterwards.

Even in our little project with children who probably would have allergies anyway, I can say that early introduction to cows milk via formula or in foods has made DD1's allergies more severe.

Totally agree Christy. Although I don't have a second child to compare to yet ;). I am certain, as are our health care professionals, that DS having a cows milk based formula from birth has greatly increased the severity of his cows milk allergy. Definitely will do things differently next time.

Remember though my loves that you did the best with the knowledge you had at the time and circumstance... :hug:

I have to add that my experience has been the same - though I haven't formula fed - being close to some that have their children have allergies/etc. AND EXH sisters kids are all in pretty bad shape with allergies - worsening as they get older. They had formula from birth.

I just suggest strongly that it's not necessary to feed babies/small kids dairy foods (obviously not speaking about formula but solid food...) & the introduction needs to be minimal and careful... :hug:

There you are Heaven - you've already got a headstart on the allergy resistance -by breastfeeding - that's something. I'd believe that MR - not only is there none of those yummy immunological benefits in formula (which I guess would have to help with allergy resistance too) but the gut isn't ready for solids at all before 4 months min and we certainly wouldn't introduce dairy in its natural form before solids are started - makes sense. :doh: Well I guess it wouldn't have mattered for me then anyway when I introduced dairy in form of solids, as I had to comp feed from 3 weeks so DD copped the (albeit modified) dairy on top of bb's then anyway.

THe dairy in formula has been processed and gone through like a partial digestion process before giving it to bubs, so if your child isn't allergic, it shouldn't be a problem.

My DD's both had issues with my consumption of milk whilst breastfeeding... with my first I was told to go to formula which I did eventually, with my second I went on an elimination diet and we did really well.

As I said, my DD2 has never had a diary product cross her lips other than the occasional slip up and we are heaps more relaxed now with baked goods etc, but she does not have as severe an allergy as DD1. We don't have dairy products in the house unless we are having friends over who use milk in coffee... we have survived for nearly 3 years this way and don't miss it at all anymore.

Just to clarify also, the link between infant formula and allergies does not just mean dairy allergies. The risk of any food allergy is increased.