This page is intended for parents and carers of patients who have been recommended Neocate LCP by a healthcare professional.
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Cow’s Milk Allergy Family Hub
If your healthcare professional has recommended Aptamil Pepti for your baby, you may be feeling relieved to have answers, but also a little unsure about what happens next. That’s completely understandable.
This page is here to support you with clear information, practical support and reassurance as your baby starts Aptamil Pepti.
Most importantly, there is good reason to feel positive. Once your baby’s cow’s milk allergy is recognised and managed, then they should start to feel much more comfortable and settled.
Here you’ll find:
Understanding cow’s milk allergy
Cow’s milk allergy (CMA) affects around 2–3% of babies, making it one of the most common food allergies in infancy.1 CMA typically develops in an infant’s first year and is due to their immune system inappropriately reacting to the proteins in cow’s milk.2 Symptoms usually start once cow’s milk is introduced into the diet, either through formula or when they begin weaning.3 More rarely, some infants may react to the tiny amounts of cow’s milk protein passed through breastmilk.3
Symptoms can vary from baby to baby, but may include:
• Skin reactions, like itching, rashes, swelling, hives or eczema
• Digestive symptoms like vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation or reflux
• Abdominal pain and discomfort
• Respiratory symptoms like coughing, sneezing and wheezing
If you are breastfeeding your baby, your healthcare professional will encourage you to continue breastfeeding and, if required, remove dairy from your own diet alongside appropriate supplementation of calcium and vitamin D.
If your baby is being formula-fed (exclusively or combination feeding), your doctor or dietitian may recommend Aptamil Pepti.
1. British Dietetic Association (BDA). Milk allergy [Online]. 2021. https://www.bda.uk.com/resource/milk-allergy.html [Accessed March 2026].
2. NICE. Clinical Knowledge Summary. Cow’s milk Allergy in Children [Online]. 2025. https://cks.nice.org.uk/topics/cows-milk-allergy-in-children/ [Accessed March 2026].
3. Allergy UK. What is a cow’s milk allergy? [Online]. https://www.allergyuk.org/information-and-support/support-for-your-child/allergy-in-childhood/cows-milk-allergy/ [Accessed March 2026].
What is Aptamil Pepti?
Aptamil Pepti is a hypoallergenic formula for the dietary management of infants with cow’s milk allergy. It provides the nutritional support your baby needs, while making the cow’s milk protein less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
Proteins are made of tiny building blocks. You can think of them like a necklace made of beads joined together.
In Aptamil Pepti, the necklace has been broken into smaller sections called peptides. This is called extensively hydrolysed protein. Because the milk proteins are broken into smaller pieces, the immune system is much less likely to react to them.1
Aptamil Pepti is similar to standard infant formula in its overall nutrition, but with this important difference in the protein.
1. Allergy UK. What is a cow’s milk allergy? [Online]. https://www.allergyuk.org/information-and-support/support-for-your-child/allergy-inchildhood/cows-milk-allergy/ [Accessed March 2026].
What to expect starting Aptamil Pepti
When your baby starts Aptamil Pepti you may notice some changes to begin with, such as wind or a change in their stools (poo). This is common and is just your baby’s body getting used to a different type of feed. These changes usually settle with time, once they have adapted to digesting Aptamil Pepti.
Altered stool frequency and colour
- You may notice some initial changes to your baby’s stools, e.g. colour, consistency, smell and frequency, when your baby moves onto Aptamil Pepti. These changes may take a few days or up to a few weeks to settle.
- A baby on Aptamil Pepti typically has green stools. This is perfectly normal and is due to the way Aptamil Pepti is digested. It’s also normal for bowel movements to gradually decrease in frequency once your child starts on Aptamil Pepti.
- Always speak to your child’s doctor or dietitian if your child’s stools are black in colour or if they are overly hard and dry and your child seems to have trouble passing them.
Wind
- Initially your baby may have more wind while drinking Aptamil Pepti. This is common and should settle. It is just your baby’s body getting used to digesting Aptamil Pepti.
Increased appetite
- Your baby may start drinking larger amounts of Aptamil Pepti once their allergy symptoms have improved. This is to be expected, especially if your baby is underweight for his/her age. Continue to feed on demand, unless otherwise directed by your doctor or dietitian.
Using Aptamil Pepti
Continue to feed your baby on demand, unless your doctor or dietitian advises otherwise.
Please follow the instructions on the packaging which shows you how to correctly prepare the formula and a feeding guide is also provided. Always follow any instructions given to you by your healthcare professional, as they will guide you according to your baby’s individual needs.
Key points:
• Wash hands and sterilise equipment thoroughly
• Always use the scoop provided in the tin
• Prepare feeds fresh whenever possible
• Discard any unfinished feeds remaining after 1 hour
If you’re unsure about anything, your doctor or dietitian can help.
Weaning a baby with cow’s milk allergy
Once your baby is ready to start solids - usually at around 6 months, or when advised by your healthcare professional - you may wonder which foods are suitable and how to introduce them safely.
With the right guidance, most babies with cow’s milk allergy can enjoy a wide variety of foods. Here are some tips to get you started:
- Introduce new foods gradually to help your baby adjust and make it easier to spot any reactions
- Continue your baby’s prescribed formula – it’s an important source of nutrition during weaning
- Check labels carefully to avoid cow’s milk ingredients in foods you buy
- Follow your baby’s lead - every baby will develop at their own pace
There’s lots more information in our parent resources and via links in the support section. If you have any concerns always speak to a healthcare professional.
Share your experience
Every family’s journey with cow’s milk allergy is different. By sharing your experience, you can help us better understand what parents go through and improve the support we offer to others.
We’ve created a short questionnaire to learn more about your experience - from recognising symptoms to starting your baby on specialist feeds. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and could help other families in the future. We know your time is precious, so the questionnaire only takes around 5–10 minutes to complete.
As a thank you, you’ll be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a £150/€150 voucher (terms and conditions apply).
Recipe ideas for babies with cow’s milk allergy
Once your baby is ready for a wider range of foods, you may be looking for some inspiration. We’ve created simple recipes suitable for babies with cow’s milk allergy.
Looking for some more simple recipes suitable for your baby with cow’s milk allergy?
Explore our collection of delicious recipes here
Share your experience
We’ve created a short questionnaire to learn more about your experience - from recognising symptoms to starting your baby on specialist feeds. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and could help other families in the future. We know your time is precious, so the questionnaire only takes around 5–10 minutes to complete.
As a thank you, you’ll be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a £150/€150 voucher (terms and conditions apply).
Support for you and your baby
Finding out that your baby may have cow’s milk allergy can feel worrying and overwhelming. Many parents have questions, and it’s completely natural to need support along the way. You are not alone. There are people and resources here to help should you need them.
If you would like to talk to someone, our Careline team are here to help. Our expert support teams can offer guidance, answer questions, or simply provide reassurance. You can contact the team by phone:
UK: 0800 996 1000 (including Northern Ireland)
Republic of Ireland: 1800 22 12 34
You may also find it helpful to explore trusted organisations such as Allergy UK and NHS websites, which provide reliable information and support for families living with cow’s milk allergy.
Useful links:
Share your experience
Every family’s journey with cow’s milk allergy is different. By sharing your experience, you can help us better understand what parents go through and improve the support we offer to others.
We’ve created a short questionnaire to learn more about your experience - from recognising symptoms to starting your baby on specialist feeds. Your feedback is incredibly valuable and could help other families in the future. We know your time is precious, so the questionnaire only takes around 5–10 minutes to complete.
As a thank you, you’ll be entered into a prize draw for a chance to win a £150/€150 voucher (terms and conditions apply).
Accurate at time of publication: March 2026.
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