I have a family who has two boys who come to my childcare home. The baby is 9 mo. old and is on almond and coconut milk, along with rice cereal and baby foods. His older brother (2.5 years old) is gluten and dairy free so they think the baby is too and they don't want to put him on Soy because of the hormones in it. She does breastfeed 2-3 times a day so I hope that that makes up for it, but she did say she may stop due to him not taking in as much. She has a doctor friend who will write notes for her, so what am I to do? I feel that he isn't getting the proper nutrition and also the possibility of a nut allergy scares me (he doesn't seem to have one, but still) but his parents will only allow him to have those milks if the mom can't pump enough bm to bring here and they want me to feed him more food, I'm assuming to make up for nutrients. I am not a nutritionist so I don't know what nutritional value if any these milks could provide for a baby.
For those of you that have these allergies or children with them, is this normal? I'm new to these allergies, well not really the dairy, but all the children that I have had with a dairy allergy before drank soy formula and I just want to know if giving a baby those milks is normal or healthy instead of some type of formula.

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We have a 3 yo dcg who is intolerant to cow's milk, but they also don't want soy because of the hormone issues. They wanted her to just drink water or coconut milk but in KS it is against our rules to serve anything other than animal milk or soy (not only are coconut and almond milks not nutritionally equivanant, DCG also detests them both!!) We were able to get mom to all us to try goat's milk and dcg does great on it, no allergy issues (cow's milk causes upset stomach and excema for her). Maybe see if parents are open to other animal milks?

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1. Coconut is NOT a nut. It's a seed.
2. If he's been drinking almond milk for awhile with no issue you don't have to worry about nut allergies.
3. It's probably not really any of your business. If he's breastfeeding then he's getting lots of nutrition there. As long as he eats a good variety of foods and gets breastmilk, that's all that he really needs. Milk from animals besides humans is not actually a dietary requirement. All those nutrients can be found in other, usually better, sources.
4. Yes, soy is awful stuff. Furthermore, soy mimics the dairy proteins so dairy allergies are occasionally aggravated by soy proteins. Fermented soy (tofu, soy sauce) is different as are fresh edamame I believe. It's the stuff like soy milk and soy additives that are the big concern.

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Humans are the only species that drinks milk past infancy stages.

I have never had dairy in my life and I am very healthy. In the part of the world I was born. Dairy is not part of the normal diet

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Thanks for the info. I do appreciate the info on the soy, I just recently started getting information on it. I know it's probably not any of my business, I was just curious about if it was good for babies or not. Geez, this is why I asked on here. I know a coconut is NOT a nut, I was referring to the almond being one and I was just wondering about babies drinking those milks as being most of their fluid intake as the mom does breastfeed, but she has said that his consumption is way down and she may stop. You don't have to be rude. I'm on here to get info. because like I said I am not a nutritionist and I thought babies should have breast milk or formula not coconut or almond milk. Geez

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I have a few kids who never drink any dairy. They are actually my healthiest kids. The girl across the street has never, ever had even a little bit of dairy, ever...not even butter. She was breast fed til about 14 months, then nothing. She drinks Either rice or almond milk occasionally, but, mostly only water. She's thin, active, healthy, has thick beautiful hair, nice skin, and is the picture of health.

Her twin sister drinks a few glasses of milk a day, and has really bad acne, is overweight (just a little) and has horrible periods. They are fraternal twins, but still, the only major difference is S has food allergies, and sister doesn't, so sister is free to eat what she wants, S is limited.

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I think I may have asked my question the wrong way.
The baby that I have is only 9 months old. He does breast feed, but only minimal amounts according to mom so she brings 16 ounces of almond or coconut milk to replace the breast milk.
I don't believe anyone should have to drink milk from animals, but what should a 9 month old drink if it's not breast milk or some type of formula? Is coconut milk or almond milk sufficient? It does say on the carton to not replace breast milk or formula with those milks.
I'm just curious, as I know it's not any of my business, but just like in other posts, people get concerned over nutritional requirements and I am just curious.

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Is the doctor friend that is writing notes the pediatrician that she listed on the kids enrollment forms?? If not, I'd ask for a note from the children's pediatrician. That's just me though.

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No it's not his ped.. I think I will ask for one. They just recently started doing this. One day the child would not drink the milk that they brought in the bottle and I told dad and he said "oh it's coconut milk".

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I may be confused but I think from what I remember in a similar situation years ago, coconut milk majorly lacks in protein which we all know is very very important. If it were me, yes, I'd certainly ask for a note from the real pediatrician, not the doctor friend. If they are using coconut or almond milk, there likely are some concerns. Good luck and keep us updated

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AT 9 months BM or formula there are options besides soy if there is a milk allergy. there are natural products to help mom with milk production that work very well. If the child can not have formula then she needs to increase her milk supply NOT wean the child.

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Neither coconut or almond milk are credible on the food program. Soy and lactose free milk are. Not sure if you are on fp though.

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I recommend rice milk but if this mom is using the other and has a doctor note I wouldn't worry about it. In another couple months he will be on table food. I think there would be more to worry about if she was giving him cows milk! I think it is horrid stuff for babies

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Very interesting! Makes you wonder!

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I would ask mom to bring in baby formula. They are only 9 months, they still need vitamins and protien. I undestand she bf a couple times a day, so can she pump instead. If they think the baby is allergic then get him tested.

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i'm sorry. i didn't mean to come off as rude.


i'm just saying that there really isn't a single thing in milk that can't be gotten elsewhere. his protein can come from other food sources, such as meat and beans. both of which, at 9 months, he is fine to have. add long as he is growing and meeting milestones then there's nothing to worry about.

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My son who is 3 has been drinking Almond milk since he was 10 months old. He is happy and healthy. He cant have anything with diary in it. He wouldnt drink the regular almond milk but the vanilla he loves. If the baby has been on it for a while I wouldnt worry about it.

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My daughter is allergic to the cows milk protein and also soy. After many visits with her GI specialists and also her allergists at Johns Hopkins we have her on rice milk. They did allergy tests and found that she isn't allergic to other things so almond milk is also fine. Problem is that none of these milks have enough FAT in them to harvest proper brain development. She gets 8 ounces of a special formula in her milk every day to ensure she is getting proper nutrition. It is very expensive and she is now 28 mo old. She's been on this type of formula (Alimentum) since she was about 7 months old and it was the only thing that worked for her and allowed her to grow normally. If this parent is breast feeding that should allow enough fat in the child's diet but if she decides to stop they will probably have to supplement with a special formula. This is something she needs to discuss with her pediatrician and if they feel their answers are not being adequately met, they need a referral to a specialist, especially if other allergies run in the family.

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Formula usually IS milk from animals (cow's milk). I know that lots of kids are off formula by 9 months, I do NOT think it's a good idea. Check into the rules in your state on how to feed a 9 month old in daycare.

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My 8 month old daughter is highly allergic to dairy and soy, I make her bottles of broth from beef bones and she eats vegetables, fruits and liver plus sometimes an additional protein, and grains every day. She tested too allergic to every prescription hypoallergenic formula out there. I brew bones 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and it is hell. I also have a 22 month old. She is on the necessary probiotics and gets additional fats through coconut, olive and flax seed oil in addition to a daily multivitamin. My baby is a brick house, little baby biceps and all. She climbs staircases over and over and never gets tired, she is hyperactive, a Duracell bunny baby. In working with a major city hospital GI, a nutritionist at the hospital, an additional local nutritionist and the pediatrician she is being introduced to coconut milk at 9 months to start weaning off of the broth. The broth has been wonderful in nutrition and minerals, but also seems to make her (pardon the expression) crap her brains out 5-8 times a day. I am exhausted and looking for success stories or tips. Doctors are not confident to put her on other animals milk as her throat actually closes up or did as a newborn. I breastfed and tried desperately to, but my milk was just as bad to her, very upsetting to me. There are so many ways to tell a parent to do a better job, but some of us literally have done everything possible including quit our jobs. I agree getting a pediatricians note is a write that you have to protect yourself, but this mother might also truly be doing what she feels is best for her baby. Its a tough situation, but as a caregiver its good that you care. At least the baby will be on table food soon and might be well supplemented at home. Soy is bad if you ask me and I'm not a fan of animal milk, but if my daughter could drink it to help her, she would certainly have it.

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Yes, while almond milk or coconut milk alone do not provide the nutritional value the baby needs, the baby eats solids (which covers most of the nutritional value that bm and formula do). The baby breastfeeds a lot actually (2/4 times at that age is huge) and may take a multivitamin to cover the rest. If the mom weens she should be applauded that she did it for 6 months, when bm/formula is the only or main nutritional source. The milk may be used for just a filler/ supplement. The allergy thing is not a concern as the baby has been on the milk for a while.

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Of course it’s your business. You are taking care of the child and responsible for it’s health while in your care.

Are you on the food program? If so, I’d talk to your representative. If not, I’d research and talk to a nutritionist or pediatrician and go from there.

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maybe it is so because animals are not smart enough to learn how to milked other animals as well as make fire, build houses, fly to the moon...

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old thread

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