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Moving forward after weaning with a cow's milk allergy
Once your child reaches 1 year old, it is usual to swap from infant formula to a plant-based milk. It's important to choose a plant-based milk with added calcium and vitamins to help your child grow.
Most children will grow out of their milk allergy. If your baby has a delayed cow's milk allergy (non-IgE mediated), you can start the iMAP milk ladder when they are 9 to 12 months old. Read more about reintroducing cow's milk protein after milk free weaning.
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Milks for babies over 1 year old
Milks for babies over 1 year old
Once your child reaches 1 year old, they can continue on breast milk if you wish. If your baby has infant formula, you can now swap this to a plant-based milk.
Choose a plant-based milk made from oat, pea or soya protein that contains added calcium. Coconut and nut-based milks often contain less calories and protein. But they can be used if your child does not tolerate the other milks.
Rice milk is not suitable for children under 5 years old.
Things to look for when choosing a plant-based milk
- Choose a plant-based milk that provides at least 40 calories and 1g protein per 100ml.
- Check that the plant-based milk has added calcium by looking at the list of nutrients on the packaging. Most plant-based milks contain around 120mg calcium per 100ml, which is the same as cow's milk. Organic milks do not usually contain added calcium.
- If you can, choose a plant-based milk that also contains added vitamins and iodine.
Plant-based milks are widely available in supermarkets. You can choose one that needs refrigerating before opening, or one that only needs refrigerating after opening.
Introducing a new milk
At first, your child may not want to try a new type of milk. This is often because they have got used to the taste of their infant formula. Try introducing the new milk over a few days. You can mix the new milk in with their formula in each cup or bottle. Slowly introducing the new milk can also help to lessen any digestive changes.
- Start by making up 30ml (1oz) less of formula than normal in each bottle. Replace this with 30ml (1oz) of the new milk.
- On the second day, replace 60ml (2oz) of formula with 60ml (2oz) of the new milk.
- On the third day, replace 90ml (3oz) of formula with 90ml (3oz) of the new milk. Keep increasing the amount until your child is only drinking the new milk.
How much milk your child should drink
Children over 1 year old do not need more than 400ml (14oz) of milk in a 24 hour period.
250ml to 300ml (8 to 10oz) per day of a plant-based milk with added calcium would be enough calcium. This amount includes any plant-based milk mixed in with food. If your child is having other products that have added calcium, like plant-based yoghurts or cheese, less milk is needed.
Check the labels of plant-based products because not all of them have added calcium. Read more about calcium.
Vitamin requirements
Vitamin D is only found in a few foods, so a supplement containing 10mcg of vitamin D is recommended for babies and children under 5 who are taking less than 500ml infant formula per day.
You can choose to give your child a supplement containing vitamins A, C and D rather than giving a vitamin D supplement alone. This is only a precaution as some children may not get enough of these vitamins. This is often the case if a child does not eat a varied diet.
Make sure you read the label of your vitamins to check they are age appropriate. Read more about vitamins for children.
