MSPI & wanting to wean & try goat's milk

[mlindsey]

My 7 month old is breastfed & has MSPI.  It seems like he is starting to outgrow the intolerance somewhat.  Is not in as much pain when i accidently eat something w/ milk.  anyway, i really would like to start weaning him SLOWLY & wanted to try goat's milk.  i heard that many people have had more luck w/ goat's milk than formulas such as nutramigen, etc.  but then on the info about MSPI it states that goats milk is very similar to cow's milk protein.  i would love to hear any suggestions...especially those that have used goats milk.  also, do you just buy it at a health food store?  i've seen it in cans before...is that okay?  or should i stick to infant formula?  he also has reflux pretty bad & is taking prevacid (so he throws up a lot)!  my daughter also had mspi & reflux.  we put her on nutramigen at 3 months & it took her several weeks to adjust (she was in lots of pain).  plus, i don't know if my son could get used to the taste of it since he's older. 

thanks for your help. 
misty

[jennyh]

hi,i was told to wait until 12 months before challenging milk products.the consultant also said something about the molecules in milk,soya,goats milk etc being a similar size and thats why they affect the body in a similar way..hth

[Mom to M&M]

Goat's milk is quite similar in terms of the animal protein. It's also true though that some LOs who are intolerant of cow's milk can tolerate goat's milk (my father and MIL are case in points). However, goat's milk doesn't contain nearly the vitamins/nutrients in breastmilk or formula. I'd suggest first continuing breastfeeding as that is best for MSPI. But if you definitely want to wean, I'd suggest Alimentum.

[mlindsey]

thanks for the suggestions.  i may try Alimentum.  How's the taste of this one??  i've heard that it is a little better than nutramigen.  i really would like to get a sample first though...before i spend the money on a whole can.  thanks for the help.  i would love to hear more about this formula & those that have tried goats milk. 
misty

[Mom to M&M]

Alimentum does taste better than Nutramigen and we had much better luck with the Ready to Feed formulation over the powder/can.

[Jimbob]

We have tried goats milk and sheeps milk with our toddler and he reacts to both just as much as cows milk. We did not try a formula it was just ordinary goats milk and the same with the sheeps milk. We were hoping he would have been able to tolerate either goats or sheeps milk as this would have given a bit more variation in his diet as we are very limited with all his allergies.

[First Time Mom]

My dd is almost 16 months and was diagnosed with milk protein allergy from 6 weeks of age. I bf (still do) and when she was 11 months I tried to eat goat's milk cheese and she reacted immediately. I too, was told the protein is similar. If you can I would suggest continuing to bf and then after 12 months, if your lo is still allergic to the milk, switch to fortified rice milk, or try the hypo formula if you plan to stop bfing and continue it past the 12 months. My ped told me to try this formula and continue it well past 12 months if her allergy continued and if I was going to stop bfing. I had emailed Dr. Jack Newman (bfing guru) when she was 12 months and he said soy or rice (fortified) was fine if I was continuing to bf (my dd is not allergic to soy) because they need the fat that even fortified soy or rice milk doesn't have.

[tmhill]

I was told not to start my MSPI son on goats milk.  We use Alimentum.  You can call Ross labs (the maker ofs Similac formulas) and get a sample sent to you but it take a LONG time!