Some children can have a more severe allergic reaction called anaphylaxis.

Signs of anaphylaxis include: 

• wheezing, difficult, or noisy breathing 
• swelling of the tongue
• swelling or tightness in the throat
• a persistent cough
• difficulty talking or a hoarse voice
• dizziness
• becoming pale and floppy in young children
• collapsing.

If your child has signs of anaphylaxis, you should:

• follow your child’s ASCIA action plan for anaphylaxis if you have one
• use an EpiPen® or Anapen® if there is one available
• call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance.

Some babies can develop a delayed reaction to dairy that takes hours or days to develop.

Symptoms of a delayed reaction can include:

• vomiting and nausea
• abdominal pain or stomach ache
• bloating
• diarrhoea.

Some children may also have blood or mucus in their poo. 

The most important thing you can do is support your child in avoiding dairy in their diet. You can also educate your child, family, and friends about allergies, reactions, and what to do in an emergency.

Parents of younger children will need to read ingredient lists and learn to find dairy in foods and drinks.

Older children can be supported in learning to read ingredient lists and find dairy in foods. 

This can help keep children safe and encourage them to be more independent and confident about their diet and health as they grow.

You will need to tell your child’s school or childcare about any allergies and share the ASCIA action plan to help manage their allergies and keep them safe.

Some foods will visibly contain dairy, for example, milky drinks, ice cream, and cheese. 

Dairy is also commonly used in cooking and baking to add moisture to dry ingredients, so it can be difficult to avoid. 

Some common foods that contain dairy include:

• baked goods - for example, cake, muffins, and biscuits
• desserts - for example, custard, ice cream, chocolate, and cream
• foods that have been cooked or fried in butter or ghee
• dips and sauces - for example, anything including cheese, sour cream or cooking cream
• common dairy foods and ingredients like cheese, cottage cheese, buttermilk, butter, yoghurt and condensed or evaporated milk
• protein products like powder or supplements that contain whey
• infant formula.

Sweets like chocolate and lollies can also contain dairy, so it is important to check the ingredients list, even if the product is labelled as dairy-free or plant-based.

Dairy can also be called different names on ingredient lists, including:

• casein and caseinates
• dairy solids
• hydrolysates - casein, milk protein, whey
• low-fat milk 
• malted milk
• milk derivative
• milk protein                        
• milk solids 
• non-fat dairy solids
• non-fat milk solids
• pro-biotics
• skim milk
• skim milk solids
• whey.

It is important to always check the package and ingredient list of all foods your child eats.

In Australia, allergens are bolded each time they appear in an ingredient list. Packaged foods should also have a warning on the label that they "may contain traces of dairy."

This means the food is made in a facility that also makes foods that contain dairy. 

Talk to your child’s doctor about whether these foods are safe.

Always tell the staff when eating out that your child has a dairy or cow's milk allergy. This will help you find safe foods and avoid contamination. 

If you cannot confirm that food does not contain dairy, it is safest for your child to avoid it.

Dairy is a common ingredient in baking, cooking and many snack foods, including chocolate. 

A dairy-free diet can be difficult, but baking goods and other foods using dairy substitutes is possible. Your local supermarket or specialty store may stock dairy substitutes made commercially and labelled for plant-based or vegan diets. 

These products are often made of soy, coconut, oats, rice, or tree nuts and can include replacements for: 

• yoghurt
• milk
• ice-cream
• cream
• cheese.

Speak to your child’s doctor or dietician about safe dairy alternatives.

Dairy products are generally the main source of calcium in a child’s diet. Children with dairy allergies will need to get their calcium from other sources.

Your child’s doctor or dietitian may recommend calcium supplements or calcium-fortified soymilk products. You can also see a dietician who can help ensure your child gets enough calcium to grow well.

Babies with dairy allergies should not have formula made from cows' milk or other types of dairy, like goat's milk. Soy-based infant formula can be suitable for babies allergic to dairy if they are not allergic to soy. 

Rice-based formulas can be used for babies with allergies to dairy and soy.

Special infant formulas are made for babies with dairy and soy allergies that your doctor can prescribe if your baby cannot have a dairy or soy formula.

Infant formula labelled hypo-allergenic is inappropriate for babies with dairy allergies because it often contains dairy milk proteins. Speak to your doctor or dietician if you are unsure.

Dairy allergy is different to lactose intolerance. Lactose is a sugar that is found in dairy. A lactose intolerance is when lactose cannot be digested in the bowel, causing pain and diarrhoea.