Babies Breastfeeding Challenges Hidden Dairy Ingredients for Babies With Milk Allergies Cutting these surprising culprits from your breastfeeding diet may help By Jennifer White Updated December 28, 2017 Pin Flip Email Print Tiburon Studios/E+/Getty Images More in Babies Breastfeeding Challenges As Baby Grows Pumping & Storing For Mom Growth & Development Health & Safety Everyday Care Formula Baby Food Preemies Gear and Products Did you know that there could be hidden dairy ingredients in deli meat, salad dressings, and even shellfish? Many manufacturers dip fish in milk to contain the smell! So what does this mean if your breastfeeding baby is showing a sensitivity to or has a cow's milk allergy from the dairy products you are eating? Well, if you're thinking about cutting dairy from your diet, you may need to think beyond the obvious dairy sources (milk, cheese, sour cream, ice cream). Just by taking a closer look at food labels, you'll be surprised by the many foods with hidden dairy ingredients. Dairy Ingredients to Avoid Use the following list to help you steer clear of dairy products, including those hidden dairy ingredients. Note: Even after eliminating these foods from your diet, it may take a few days to a few weeks to notice any difference (and in some cases, it may not help at all). Artificial butter flavorButterButterfatButtermilkButteroilCaseinCheeseCottage cheeseCreamCurdsCustardGheeHalf and halfHydrolysates (casein, milk proteins, whey, whey proteins)KoumisLactalbuminLactalbumin phosphateLactoglobulinLactoseLactuloseMilk (condensed, derivative, dry, evaporated, powder, low fat, malted, nonfat, protein, skim, solids, whole)MilkfatPaneerPuddingRennet caseinSour creamSour cream solidsWhey (all forms)Yogurt Surprising Foods That Contain Milk Caseinates (ammonia, calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium)Chewing gumDeli meatDips and salad dressingsGoat's milk Hot dogsInstant mash potatoesKeferLactaid milkNougatPateSausageSherbetShellfishSimplesSoy or rice cheeseSteakTuna fish Will Cutting Out Dairy Work? There's no cure for allergies and there is little research to back up whether eliminating dairy products from your diet will help your breastfed baby. That said, it can't hurt to give it a try. Your first step might be keeping a food diary, with notes on the baby's symptoms and behavior according to the foods you eat. This will make it easier to make connections between certain foods and a baby's distress, according to the La Leche League. It's also important to note that switching to lactose-free or soy products may not improve the situation. Babies with cow's milk sensitivities have issues with cow's milk antibodies that come through breastmilk as a protein, not lactose. These proteins are still present in lactose-free milk products. Further, some babies who have sensitivities or allergies to cow's milk protein also have problems digesting soy proteins. If your baby is highly sensitive to cow's milk, your best bet is to work with your pediatrician. Together, you can come up with a well-balanced and satisfying diet for you and your breastfed baby. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Get diet and wellness tips to help your kids stay healthy and happy. Email Address Sign Up There was an error. Please try again. Thank you, , for signing up. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Continue Reading