I've moved over here rather than monopolise "Boomer turns 1".

We went to see the dietician yesterday and I now know that a one year old requires 350mg of calcium a day.

100ml cow's milk = 120mg
100g sardines = 460mg

The only reason to have milk is for the calcium. I asked why milk was recommended and was told it was because it always has been. I guess it's easier to suggest a pint of milk rather than one fig, a handful of seeds, a portion of kale etc etc...

The dietician suggested I use fortified rice, oat or soy milk in cooking and recommended soy or hydrolysed formula for drinking.

I'm happy that I can drop the morning breastfeed and replace it with fortified rice milk in her porridge. However, the night feed is a bit more difficult.

On reflection, I don't want to give her soy formula. At least not in the volumes that are being suggested. There's no daily maximum allowance for soy. I was told that if she has 500ml she should be okay. Not comfortable with that. I guess we can try hydrolysed formula if the GP will agree to prescribe it.

She's been off dairy for five days now and her skin has nearly cleared up. I think she could probably cope with some dairy. Her eczema is currently restricted to the back of her knees, if she was ravaged with it, I would take her off dairy completely. I can't even be sure it is the dairy that causes it to flare up. There's illness, teething, weather, full moon...

So, we are part way there. The quest to raise my child whilst making not a single mistake continues...ahem.

I've been panicking thinking I couldn't NOT give the Weeble milk, it seems way more odd than this BLW lark, but then my mum pointed out to me that I refused point blank to drink milk until I was about 15, and my grandmother never ate any dairy products at all for her entire life, and it doesn't seem to harm either of us (well, Nanna's gone now, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't for a lack of milkshakes and cheese sandwiches!)

But, oh god, sardines... even the word makes me want to hurl. Might have to get his father to feed him those!

Moomin, I really glad that you got some good advice from your dietician and its sounds like the wee ones skin is doing good. After reading squirrels entry about trying not to depend to much on dairy I have beeen giving Boomer less milk - as it was alarming how much she was drinking. She didn't get a drink of milk when she woke and she had yoghurt apple and flakes. Sardines on toast though - there's a blast from the past - I think thats dinner!

Very, very interesting news, particularly as Babybear is rebelling over the cow's milk thing.