I can't eat dairy: A childrens book about having an CMPA allergy

Having a Dairy Free child is tough.
I know I am a mum of two dairy free (CMPA - Cows milk protein allergy) children, I have one with the IgE allergy - which is the immediate response to ingestion, whereas the non-IgE is the delayed response which can take up to 48 hours to develop. It is important to note that both types are valid allergic reactions and both involve the immune system.

CMPA - known as cow's milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies to affect babies and young children in the United Kingdom, whilst it typically impacts formula fed babies, breast fed babies can also be affected. The allergy is an immune response to proteins found in cow's milk (although typically this also found in Goat and Buffalo milk) primarily the response is to casein and whey. Unlike lactose intolerance, which is the inability to digest lactose (milk sugar), CMPA is an allergic reaction to specific proteins within the milk. It is thought to affect over 7% of children under 1 year of age, but typically grow out of it by school age.

Explaining being dairy free in a child friendly way can also be challenging. Our books aim to break down those barriers and make your child feel like they are not alone and raise their understanding of foods that are dairy and foods that typically contain dairy. This is a great starting point for navigating conversations with your child around their allergy, not being able to try foods their siblings or friends may have or they see in the shops, cafe or restaurants is tough. The book also contains a fun and easy dairy free recipe to try and make at home!