How old is your child and how old were they when you started this journey?

Nyra is 18 months old (as of January 2022) She was first diagnosed with a dairy intolerance at 3 weeks old.

What were the initial symptoms?

Blood and mucus in her stool. She never seemed bothered by the intolerance. Always been very content, happy, sleeping well. But the only symptom was mucus and sometimes blood in her stool.

What foods did you cut out initially?

All forms of dairy (didn't know about hidden dairy)

How long did it take to clear up?

We always had a few good days and then boom, some blood in diapers. I was never able to find out the right triggers (I had tried eliminating eggs, nuts, wheat but randomly would get bloody diapers) Things cleared up only after we started solids. After a week or so of solids, we never saw any blood in her diapers and also tested negative for occult blood.

What was the winning combo of foods for your child?

I believe she was only dairy intolerant but she never healed properly until we introduced a variety of foods as solids to her diet. Before introducing solids I was dairy free, soy free, peanut and other tree nuts free.

What's your favorite allergy friendly brand or food? 

I definitely enjoyed Blaze Pizza. Nature's Bakery Fig Bar as sweet snacks. Simply 7 lentil chips as savory snacks.

What is one piece of advice you would tell someone who is just starting out?

Maintain a food journal and don't get disheartened if you don't see immediate results. If you feel stressed out, talk to your partner, family or friend(s) who understand and support your journey.

Don't lose hope. There's light at the end of the tunnel.

Where are you right now in your journey?

We have cleared all the allergens and are happily enjoying every food group!