Soy Milk vs Cows Milk

[shanilisa]

My son, 2,5 years old, suffers with stomach cramps and constipation. I am considering putting him on soya milk to see if this alleviates the problem. He has had this problem most of his life. Has anyone had similar with their children? And what worked?

[andy-hughes]

He may well be lactose intolerant.

My youngest daughter was diagnosed as a new-born. and after weaning, has enjoyed soya milk throughout her life - she is nearly twenty now.

It is certainly worth a try - but have a word with your GP and see if you can get him referred for some tests first.

[shanilisa]

Thanks for that. I think that I need to do so - I have been back and forth to my paediatrician since he was tiny and no tests were recommended. I can't bear to see him battling like this.

[andy-hughes]

That's surprising. Maybe you should ask for a second opinion.

[shanilisa]

I think that you are right. I will contact my GP today and get an appointment. Basically I was told that unless his stools were "frothy" (sorry I know that sounds revolting) it was not lactose intolerance.
My other thought has been perhaps a wheat allergy - but that would only account for now, not for when he was tiny and not eating bread.

[Mully79]

My daughter has had eczema and various other ailments kicking off from about 1 year old. I spoke to the doctor about it, was given various creams etc but I was convinced it was a milk allergy although the doc wasn't concerned (rubbish doctor). She was also breastfeeding and topping up with formula so I thought it would only get worse if weaned onto cow's milk full time so I tried her on sweetened soya milk and it did make a difference, her skin cleared up.

I can't see anything wrong with trying it out for a while and seeing if it makes a difference. You see your son every day and will notice any changes, unlike a doctor who won't necessarily see the full picture.

[mrs_overall]

If you try the soya milk and he doesn't like it, try him on rice milk.

[k8bailey]

My daughter is 10 months and was diagnosed with 'cows milk protien allery' some months ago, her only symptom was persistant vomitting. She's is now on hypoallergenic milk formula, (nutramigen) everytime we try her on dairy or soya she is very sick, and the smell is awful!

The paediatrician we see, told us that aprox a third of people who are intolerant of milk are also soya intolerant. We have also been told that she will probably grow out of this by about 3.

Ask for a referal to an allery testing clinic and/or a dietician. If not - trial and error, try cutting all dairy and milk protien out and see if his symptoms dissapear. This needs to be done for a few weeks though with my little girl it was 6 weeks. You really will have to check labels very carefully though, we're finding out that there's milk in all sorts of things!

Good luck, hope you get him sorted out!

[zzxxee]

has he ever been tested for chrones disease?

[tiddlytums]

Your son sounds dehydrated, so keep away completely from sugar and salt. If you think there may be an allergy problem, take him off all dairy and soya and feed him stewed fruit, steamed brightly-coloured vegetables (brocolli, beetroot for example), rice and other carbohydrates including avocadoes, bananas etc (but no sugars), eggs, if he'll have them, and fish. Do all you can to keep away from additives and ready meals, and buy your veggies from a good supplier - preferably an organic supplier or reputable high quality supermarket. Buy the best. It will work and is worth the effort and expense. You will see the results in a week. The food is delicious. If you can let him help you prepare the food, he will be more interested in it. He can wash it, even cut it up a little if shown how, prod it with a sharp knife to see if it is cooked enough, mash bananas, avocadoes etc. No drinks except water - absolutely no sweetened drinks. A straw in a little glass of water makes drinking water more attractive for children who are used to sweet drinks. You can slightly flavour the food, but keep the salt and sugar quantities tiny.

[shanilisa]

thank you for all of your ideas and answers. I will go out today and prepare new foods for him to try!