Advice and resources : Managing your child's cow's milk protein allergy

Understanding milk protein allergy

If you child suffers with a rapid onset (IgE), please speak to your GP and ask them to refer to the Allergy Referral Guidelines found on their GP system.

Explanation on different types of dairy allergy

Milk-free weaning

A child with cows milk protein allergy should be weaned onto a milk free diet from 6 months. If your child is prescribed Aptamil^® Pepti 1 or Nutramigen ^® 1 with LGG, ask your GP to change the prescription to the ‘2’ version from 6 months onwards.

Weaning on a cow's milk and/or soya-free diet

Following a milk-free diet from 6 months onwards

Milk challenges

These should only take place for children with a delayed reaction (non IgE) to cows milk. Do not try this at home if your child reacted immediately to cow’s milk or had anaphylaxis, Please speak to your GP/Paediatrician.

• 2-4 weeks following the initial removal of cow’s milk – this will help to confirm or exclude the diagnosis of cow’s milk protein allergy. Please do not follow this challenge if your child has been on a milk free diet for longer than 4 weeks
• At 12 months age, or after following a period of strict milk free diet for at least 6 months, using the iMAP milk ladder - this will help confirm if your child is starting to tolerate cow’s milk

Milk and soya challenge for infants