solids, dairy introduction, and meds wean - wwyd?

[deckchariot]

dd2 is MSPI and has reflux.  Since she was 3 mos, she has gotten progressively better and has stabilized on her meds.  She is ebf and I am dairy/soy free.  We've not changed her meds since she was 4 mos.  She will be 6 mos old at the end of this month, and I'm wondering where to go next - reintroduce dairy/soy into my diet?  Start solids (and a host of questions that comes with that)? And what about a med wean?

Our pediatrician is fabulous and is more than willing to listen to stuff I find out (she went out and looked at the MARCI-kids website after I suggested it), so I want to come to our next appt with info and questions and make the best decision for dd that we can. 

So ladies, what did you do or would you do and why?

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

Call me crazy, but do you have to do anything just yet?  If BFing is going well there's no reason you can't delay solids and if things are going well I'd probably not rock the boat for another month or so.  There's no rule that says babies have to start solids at 6m.  But I'm kind of a chicken!

Didn't the specialist you see think Katie's issues were most likely allergy and not necessarily reflux related?  Or mostly allergy anyhow?  I think I'm remembering that right.  If that's the case I would probably try a slow med wean or really benign food stuff first.  I think dairy/soy is likely to bug her so I'd stay away from that for a while still.

But I'm just rambling.  We'll have to face this decision soon enough ourselves so I'll be listening in!

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Personally I left the milk re-intro until after 1 year old (we were okay with soy) and just went for solids (fruits & veggies mainly).  Not that we've ever been able to add milk back in yet, I have given up trying for awhile as we are GFCF now anyways.  

We had the best time gut wise when she was on soy formula and only eating fruits & veg, her guts were out of whack until we finally went GF all the way.  We did solids very slowly, I think we gave her only pear and apple for the first few weeks and only added a new food every week!  

[~inbalance~]

I would actually hold off on med weaning and dairy/soy introduction, just given that most babies will take a little longer to grow out of those things.  Even DS2 who had a mild case of both reflux and MPI wasn't ready to be med-free or have dairy re-introduced by 6mos.  We were still seeing a lot of reflux and tummy troubles if we weren't careful (though it was so much better than before).  I'd go with a slow solids intro first and then consider the next step around 9mos.  Whether you to a meds wean or food trials first I think will depend on which issue you think is more predominant.  DS2 tolerated dairy from 9mos on but wasn't ready to wean the meds until after 12mos, and we are only just finishing the wean now (though it probably could have happened a bit faster, I've been a cautious mommy! )

[deckchariot]

I don't have to do anything now, that's true.  She is taking a serious interest in watching us eat and grabbing for stuff on our plates...the other day she cried when she got a piece of my peach and I took it away.  So I think she's ready for solids, but I'm scared.

I'm also missing cheese....thus the thinking about dairy reintroduction....but that seriously scares me.  
Heidi - did Masyn not have soy intolerances, just milk?  We're just guessing on the soy, so I've been off it as well.  (not that that solves the cheese issue....)  I wouldn't give her dairy, but I sure would like some cheese....

Katie - the specialist thinks her reflux is caused by her dairy intolerance, but that doesn't fully explain why my diet has remained constant since she was 6 weeks old, but her reflux has gotten better progressively since she was 3 mos old.  Unless it's that she was having issues with my bm protein (his theory) and she's been outgrowing that....and then would that mean she'd be outgrowing the rest?

with the dairy reintroduction - I should have clarified that - I would not be giving her dairy or soy directly, just looking at having a wee bit in my diet.  Still a bad idea?  I was afraid many of you would say that.....

[~inbalance~]

I would not be giving her dairy or soy directly, just looking at having a wee bit in my diet.  Still a bad idea?  I was afraid many of you would say that.....

I don't think it's a bad idea at all hun.  There is no harm in trying if you think she may have outgrown it.  TBH, I had a hard time staying away from things like cheese (mmmm cheese....I love cheese) and slipped up all the time especially from 6mos on when I kept thinking he should be fine.  Then we would have some fussiness, and it just seemed like too much of a coincidence so back off the dairy I would go.  If you think solids intro can wait another week or two, then go ahead and trial a bit of dairy.  You should have an idea fairly quickly if it is still an issue. 

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

There is no harm in trying if you think she may have outgrown it.

I agree.  I would definitely give it a try.  The worst you'll get is a fussy baby for a day or so.  I had thought about trying that already with Grace (I miss SO many foods!!) but I've had a couple of instances where I inadvertently had soy and that night she was super sad so I know we're not there.  I would definitely give it a shot. 

[MasynSpencerElliotte]

Heidi - did Masyn not have soy intolerances, just milk?

Yes, just milk, and for both kids, and I couldn't have any myself while BF, and I hear you about the cheese...I used to miss having hot chocolate made with milk, soy milk just was not a good substitute!

[Aly Mac]

I have no advice but seriously michelle how did she get to six months so soon. Waaaa

[EloysH]

hmm whatever you do I would try one thing at a time so you know what is due to what.

 It might be nice to try a bit of dairy in your diet first. 

I think a med wean is likely to fail at such a young age and of it fails it could throw you guys off for a good few weeks.  But a failed food introduction really only takes a few days to recover from especially if you choose to start slowly liberalising. 

Everything gets more tricky once on solids as you will alwys have the question of new foods as a possibly cuplrit for fussiness, and of course - teeth.   So I would try for a bit of dairy/soy. 

Whether the reflux is food related or anatomical  (or both) the reflux would improve over time for both cases because the gut matures and she will develop more enzymes that are required to digest the milk and soy proteins.

[Buntybear]

If you wanted to try something then I guess the 'easiest' would be trial soy or dairy. If it is dairy you really miss try a bit of cheese. I think that the proteins are quote broken down by the heat or something and so it is a fairly 'safe' dairy to trial anyway. You may find that she can tolerate cheese every so often in your diet even is she can't handle anymore than that. Or if you aren't 100% sure she is intolerant of soy then trial that first. Maybe try one or the other before you tackle weaning onto solids as that could bring it's own complications (when watching for symptoms I mean!)

[grace annes mommy]

Have you tried this cheese-substitute?

http://www.daiyafoods.com

My DD is GF, dairy free, soy free.  This cheese is REALLY yummy, melts really well.  Both DH & I, who do not need to restrict dairy, are addicted to it.  You can get it at Whole Foods and even some Kroger's too.


Good luck with whatever you decide.  We delayed introducing solids til 7 mos., but still had a pretty rough time since we totally missed the gluten and soy allergies at first.

[Love, laughter, & PJs]

Just wanted to second this

seriously michelle how did she get to six months so soon. Waaaa

And this!

This cheese is REALLY yummy, melts really well.

[deckchariot]

I'm not eager to do a med wean, especially since we spent soooooooooo long trying to find a meds combo that worked for her.

I'll have to check out that cheese option - I see it's carried at my local Whole Foods...Grace Anne's Mommy - have you found it at any Kroger stores here locally?

delaying solids is a possibility and then trying soy/dairy for me first.  We don't eat a lot of soy, but I know it's in a lot of stuff, so not sure what we'd try there.

[grace annes mommy]

I noticed that the Kroger in Carytown just started carrying it.  Not sure about the others.