Author Topic: Milk Alternatives (Read 6017 times)

oneplusone · « **on:** July 17, 2012, 18:50:37 pm »

My DS is now 13 months and I've been EBF him since birth. I've weaned him down to 3 times a day and hopefully 2 times a day by next week since he starts daycare. I've tried introducing regular cows milk a couple times and it didn't agree with him (very fussy and almost diarrhea like BMs). So I gave up on that and tried goats milk. Same thing. I think since I've still BF 2-3 times a day he's getting a lot of nutrients in that. But I feel like I should get him on some kind of milk for daycare. Any suggestions as to what to try next? Thanks!

clazzat · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2012, 18:53:43 pm »

We are using coconut milk here - goes down really well. There is also soy, hemp, rice or oat milk - the main issues with substitute milks is that they are lower in fat and calcium than regular milk so you need to be sure that you are getting those into his diet anyway.

rach321 · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2012, 19:53:47 pm »

Another vote for coconut milk here - check your nurserys policy on nuts some are nut free environments so they wouldnt allow almond milk.

oneplusone · « **Reply #3 on:** July 18, 2012, 13:15:52 pm »

Good call on asking daycare about milk substitutes. They are a nut free facility, so I think Almond and Coconut milk would be out, however it would be kept in the fridge so it's not like any little ones would be getting into it and I don't think that would be as serious as like peanut butter on sticky fingers getting all over everything. I'll look into rice, oat, and hemp milk. If I'm still BF 2 times a day and he eats cheese and yogurt do you think that would be enough for now?

rach321 · « **Reply #4 on:** July 18, 2012, 16:50:13 pm »

Technically coconut isn't a nut it's a fruit so you should be ok!

oneplusone · « **Reply #5 on:** July 18, 2012, 19:19:02 pm »

I did not know that! So people who are allergic to nuts are not allergic to coconuts?

clazzat · « **Reply #6 on:** July 18, 2012, 19:55:55 pm »

My brother, who is allergic to nuts, can eat coconut but doesn't, but in general I think that people who are allergic to nuts avoid coconuts.

~ Vik ~ · « **Reply #7 on:** July 18, 2012, 23:25:36 pm »

Dylan is allergic to peanuts and tree nuts but no problem with coconut milk. We use soy regularly and coconut for baking in place of whole/evaporated milk or cream.

~*Nicole*~ · « **Reply #8 on:** July 18, 2012, 23:51:40 pm »

Coconut milk, I have heard, is considered to be pretty much hypoallergenic. We also used coconut milk here. Just recently started buying almond milk instead as DS seems to prefer the taste and drinks a bit more. Our almond milk says it has more calcium, although not sure how much gets absorbed, than regular milk. But it is lower in fat. We are also providing DS with coconut based butter substitute, coconut and almond based yogurts and ice creams. Since he isn't eating cheese or regular yogurt it's been hard to get more fat and overall calories into him.

oneplusone · « **Reply #9 on:** July 19, 2012, 13:49:41 pm »

Thanks Nicole, Vikki, & Clazzat! Interesting to know.

Vikki - Oh your poor LO has so many allergies! Just noticed your signature.

I guess I'll try out some new "milks" with DS.

Erin M · « **Reply #10 on:** July 20, 2012, 00:11:27 am »

Current advice is to avoid rice milk as it has a high amount of naturally occurring arsenic.

*Kara* · « **Reply #11 on:** July 20, 2012, 04:08:08 am »

Coconut here too

The best one I have found is the So Delicious brand (available in Canada now)... well fortified!

clazzat · « **Reply #12 on:** July 20, 2012, 11:59:23 am »

I have heard that it is not true about the arsenic in rice milk - although I guess there is no harm in avoiding it just in case. I have also heard that you shouldn't give soy to boys under 2 because of the phytoestrogens, but there are definitely people who say that isn't true either.

oneplusone · « **Reply #13 on:** July 20, 2012, 12:52:10 pm »

Thanks Kara. I'll look for so delicious brand and try it out.

Clazzat & Erin - I've heard that about rice milk as well. Plus I didn't think it was as fortified. I guess it depends on the brand.

*Kara* · « **Reply #14 on:** July 20, 2012, 20:13:47 pm »

For sure you have to check the labels of the alternate milks, I find about half of the different ones are fortified, depending on brand.

I get the So Delicious in the refrigerated section... what province do you live in?

chicagomom · « **Reply #15 on:** July 26, 2012, 10:13:28 am »

Quote from: clazzat on July 20, 2012, 11:59:23 am

I have heard that it is not true about the arsenic in rice milk - although I guess there is no harm in avoiding it just in case. I have also heard that you shouldn't give soy to boys under 2 because of the phytoestrogens, but there are definitely people who say that isn't true either.

my pediatric nutritionist has said the same thing...that naturally occurring arsenic is different than the arsenic that we think of and you can't equate the two and she has no problems with allergic kid drinking rice milk.

i have to say that i LOVE hemp milk! it has a nice fat level which makes me happy. i give my DS a mix of rice and hemp milk, and i add in oat and almond just to mix it up. also, coconut milk can have laxative qualities so if your DC has any issues with soft BMs just be careful (my DS cannot do coconut milk for that reason).

*Kara* · « **Reply #16 on:** July 26, 2012, 21:41:31 pm »

Quote from: chicagomom on July 26, 2012, 02:13:28 am

also, coconut milk can have laxative qualities so if your DC has any issues with soft BMs just be careful (my DS cannot do coconut milk for that reason).

OMG! I wonder if that is what has been DD's issue!!! I had no idea it had a laxative effect! Come to think of it, I just made a smoothie for myself and I can say, yes, it does a touch!

Amazing what you can learn in this place! Thanks Chicagomom!

oneplusone · « **Reply #17 on:** July 27, 2012, 00:55:51 am »

Haven't tried the coconut milk yet but DS already has 3 BMs a day! So...I did sorta solve the problem... DS just decides to randomly wake me up 2 times a nighttime breastfeed him. So he's still getting 4 sometimes 5 feeds a day!

oneplusone · « **Reply #18 on:** July 29, 2012, 20:46:59 pm »

Hey Kara,
I live in AB. I found the So Delicious coconut milk at Superstore, but it's not the consistency of milk. It's in a container that's more like a yogurt container and it's more solid, like yogurt. It's not like the coconut milk you buy in a can for cooking, but it's definitely not like milk. Did I buy the right thing? Do you mix it with water? There's no way you could drink this. There were a whole bunch of soy and rice milks that were in milk like containers, but no coconut milk in a milk like container. Hope this makes sense!

clazzat · « **Reply #19 on:** July 29, 2012, 20:54:49 pm »

This is the one that we get - http://www.hollandandbarrett.com/pages/product_detail.asp?pid=2781&prodid=3603&cid=470&afid=70&safid=AG&scid=14581&cm_mmc=Aggregates-_-Comparisons-_-GoogleProducts-_-HBMVPCGP&of_tid=z-aiRk8JBFP2EFX8a3beyR7FftZdVmtA64AlnXGQFye-3kgs-8JpL8ytUzgygVOy. Not sure if you can get it in Canada, but this is the same consistency as regular milk and I don't notice the difference when I am using it in cooking etc.

clazzat · « **Reply #20 on:** July 29, 2012, 20:56:10 pm »

This might help you:
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080521081056AA1XKP2

Not sure if is the right area of Canada for you.

oneplusone · « **Reply #21 on:** July 30, 2012, 01:17:46 am »

Thanks Clazzat! I totally didn't buy the right thing. I saw coconut water - which I've had before and I don't think that's what I'd give a baby, but I didn't see any coconut milk. I think I bought cooking coconut milk. Oh well, I guess I'll to make curry or something. I thought Kara said she bought the so delicious brand and they have that at superstore and this is what I bought but it's definitely coconut milk for cooking. We do have T&T here and also a bunch of health food stores so maybe I'll try there.

*Kara* · « **Reply #22 on:** July 30, 2012, 03:31:48 am »

Not the right thing

I get the So Delicious Coconut milk from Save On Foods - Superstore doesn't carry any coconut milk (except the stuff for cooking).

They will have it at most major health good type stores... are you in Edmonton or Calgary or a smaller city?

oneplusone · « **Reply #23 on:** August 25, 2012, 18:23:26 pm »

OK. I found it at Save On. I don't usually shop there but I made a specific trip and this coconut milk is so delicious! No pun intended. I would drink it myself except I think it has a billion calories in it. Anyways, Thanks for everyone's help!

*Kara* · « **Reply #24 on:** August 25, 2012, 20:28:54 pm »

Less calories than cow's milk

oneplusone · « **Reply #25 on:** August 25, 2012, 22:13:13 pm »

Quote from: *Kara* on August 25, 2012, 20:28:54 pm

Less calories than cow's milk

really? I don't drink milk, but maybe I'll start b/c this stuff is so good.

*Kara* · « **Reply #26 on:** August 26, 2012, 03:53:38 am »

Yup! Under 100 calories in a cup... cow's milk is about 160 if I recall correctly (for full fat)

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Author Topic: Milk Alternatives (Read 6017 times)