Regarding Don Wiss' aptly pointing out, peanuts are legumes, not nuts...yes,
this is true. I never include a full list of my son's allergies because it's
too extensive but legumes as well as tree and seed nuts figure near the
worst, unfortunately.
Regarding the mom who's tempted to switch to soy formula over nursing, I would
tell her only that since weaning my son at maybe 18-20 months (being 5 months
pregnant with the next was just too much for me on top of nursing), he has
not gained an ounce of weight. Up until weaning, which coincided more or less
with finding out what his allergies were exactly (RAST testing), he had gained
more or less normally (in about 50% percentile). His eczema was wicked but
he was otherwise plump and healthy. Now, at 24 months, he's in the bottom 5$
(%) of weight for age, has never gained even though he eats a variety of
meats for protein, fruits, and vegs with sufficient calories. The breastmilk
seems to provide essential fats that you MIGHT get with soy (if your child
does okay with it, mine didn't) but that you won't get elsewhere.
I would mention too that I spend major time cooking (trying to anyway with the
limited ingredients)-- much more than before weaning because I am paranoid
he's not getting or absorbing adequate nutrition (which I didn't feel when
he was nursing).
It's true his eczema is much better and he seems to enjoy food more but
if I knew then what I know now, I don't think I would have let him wean. (Of
course, his allergies may be more extensive than your child's, but I just
thought I'd send in our story.)
Good luck whatever you decide,
Susan.
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