Well, we've been to the doctor and before I even mentioned that I was dairy free he suggested the rashes could be due to an allergy, he said the one on the back of the head definately looked allergy related.

Apart from the gravy the only other thing I've had in the last couple of days that I haven't had for ages is eggs. So will cut that out too and see how we go.

nkap - that is strange. Wonder if it is because of the cheese with Lily?

I have soy milk on my cereal most days, but not for about 4 days. That is it. I don't think I've had any dairy and have only been eating at home.

Oh no! Just checked the back of a packet gravy mix and that has dairy in it (MIL bought dinner around the other night with gravy on the beef). I guess that could be it, although it wasn't much at all. That would be quite a strong reaction huh?!

Yep. It has now been 15 days of dairy free here and we have had major improvements.

No more screaming at the breast, pulling off and arching the back, a whole heap less vomiting, much better sleeping. He is a different baby, much more settled and content.

It hasn't seemed to clear up his excema though, in fact that has got worse in the last couple of days, but I'm thinking that is an entirely different issue.

I have been dairy free now for 5 days and I have noticed an improvement in DS. He has reflux and also excema along his jawline. He is feeding better and not screaming during a feed anymore, although his excema hasn't yet improved. Will be interesting to see how it all is after the full 2 weeks.

I had started to wonder about calcium too. I've just started back on a pregnancy and breastfeeding vitamin to help with that and iron as I'm always low in iron.

I haven't found it that hard at all being dairy free, I just make sure I read the back of every label (its amazing some of the foods that have dairy in them). Although, I haven't yet been out anywhere for meals or to anyones house so things will probably be a lot harder then.

Good luck

Aaaaww Cheezly is yummy......no need for sad faces  excpet yeah it costs quite a bit.......which makes you use less lol. It IS potato starch based though yeah? Or have they changed it since I used it?

EsmesMum- no problem, happy to help. Totally understand about the testing thing...we had Clodagh allergy tested when she was about 9 months old cos she kept getting a sore tummy after I ate egg...and sure enough she is quite allergic. But hopefully she'll outgrow it. I wasn't sure how accurate it would be so young....and she won't get direct exposure until she's about 18 months old, and it has to be done in a hospital so not really looking forward to that

The protein in cow, sheep and goat milk is all different which is why *some* people who are sensitive to dairy can still tolerate goat or sheep stuff. If it's a true allergy though then probably not.

Someone asked what dairy free cheese if made of...the Cheezly which I used is made from a base of potato stach and as far as I know is wheat free. Do check the ingredient list at the SAFE shop- www.safe.org.nz

Does non cows milk cheese have the same effects? 
Would goats or sheeps milk have the same reaction?

hmmm I was dairy (and meat and egg ) free for over a year and while the first couple of weeks were a bit hard it's not that big a deal and apparently it *is* a major contributor to excema. I've just recently reduced the amount of dairy in Clodagh's diet for the same reason, although at this stage we are drinking soy milk instead of dairy but still having small amounts of organic cheese and dairy yoghurt.

From a health (and weight loss) perspecive, it's AWESOME, I've never felt healthier and it's easy to replace stuff. But yeah cheese was the hardest thing to give up....all those lovely speciality cheeses.