Living with CMPA

Living with CMPA can be a challenge, but there are solutions for every family.

Here you’ll find allergy-friendly recipes, practical tips and important information to help you when you start complementary feeding and reintroducing dairy.

hcp
Father smiling with his daughter on his lap, leaning against his chest Father smiling with his daughter on his lap, leaning against his chest

CMPA stories

Watch stories from families affected by
CMPA and their experience.

Adriana & Andre, UK.

Meet André, who presented Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy symptoms while his mother was breastfeeding him.

Elizabeth & Evie, UK.

Elizabeth talks about her baby Evie, who was diagnosed with Cow's Milk Protein Allergy after displaying a range of symptoms.

Robin + Katrien, Belgium.

Robin began showing symptoms of Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy at just 1 month old.

Anne + Kate, Italy.

Kate talks about her baby Anna, who was constipated at 4 months and later diagnosed with cows’ milk allergy.


Jay's Story

Watch our series of videos featuring Jay, who shares her family's journey with food allergies. Jay's son, Ash, has multiple food allergies, including CMPA. Their story provides valuable insights, from diagnosis to allergy management

Introduction to Jay

Meet Jay, an allergy mum and allergy life coach, who has been managing her son Ash’s multiple food allergies for the past 12 years.

Early Stages

Hear about Ash’s early symptoms, and the start of his path to a diagnosis.

Diagnosis Journey

Listen to Ash’s diagnosis journey, and discover how Jay, as his parent, felt upon receiving this diagnosis.

Managing Allergies in Early Life

Jay details challenges faced when managing her son’s allergies in early life, and offers some practical tips.

Daily Life Managing Multiple Food Allergies

Jay discussed day-to-day life managing Ash’s multiple food allergies.

Communication, Education and Support

Jay has found that communication is key when it comes to managing Ash’s allergies. Hear about how she educates and communicates with Ash, friends and family.

Reflections and Future Outlook

Jay shares some reflections to help any parent or caregiver who managing their child’s allergies.

What other families are asking?

Read answers to commonly asked questions from parents on the CMPA journey.

Yes, it’s actually the most common food allergy in the first year of life. 7 out of every 100 babies are diagnosed with CMPA.

No. There is currently no research to indicate that CMPA is caused by genetics.

Babies and children experience CMPA when their immune system mistakes the proteins found in cow’s milk as a harmful. This then causes an allergic reaction, creating one or more of CMPA’s symptoms.

CMPA can make life a bit more complicated, both for children who are diagnosed and their parents. But millions of children grow up with CMPA, and everyone’s solutions are different. With the right medical support and an imaginative approach to mealtimes, you can find a balance that works for you and your family.

There are two types of immune reaction that cause CMPA symptoms: immunoglobulin (Ig)E-mediated or a non-IgE-mediated. In some instances children experience a combination of the two. If an allergic reaction happens straight away within just a few minutes or hours of ingesting cow’s milk protein, it is probably an IgE-mediated. Delayed reactions that take 48 hours or longer are more likely to be non-IgE-mediated.

Cow's milk protein allergy weaning recipes

The following recipes, developed with leading dietitians will help you to prepare recipes suitable for children with cow's milk protein allergy. As you grow in confidence and as your child grows, you may be able to adapt family meals to make them suitable for CMPA.

More support

Focus

PRACTICAL TIPS
FOR LIVING WITH CMPA

Get access to helpful information such as food preparation in a nursery/day care and learn how to prepare the right formula product for your child.

Guide

INTRODUCTION OF
SOLIDS
(COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING)

Complementary feeding is an exciting time for you and your baby, as you watch your little one progress from a diet of breastmilk/formula milk feeds to eating family meals.

Guide

WHEN TO
INTRODUCE MILK/DAIRY?

Learn how the introduction differs between IgE and non-IgE mediated allergy and understand the role of the milk ladder and how it works.