This page is intended for parents and carers of patients who have been recommended Neocate LCP by a healthcare professional.
Welcome to Nutricia
Cow’s Milk Allergy Family Hub
If your healthcare professional has recommended Neocate LCP 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 Neocate LCP.
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 on in breast milk.
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 Neocate LCP.
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 Neocate LCP?
Neocate LCP is a hypoallergenic formula for the dietary management of infants with cow’s milk allergy, multiple food protein allergies or other conditions where an amino acid-based formula is recommended. It provides the nutritional support your baby needs, while avoiding cow’s milk protein - the trigger for their allergic symptoms.
Proteins are made of tiny building blocks called amino acids. You can think of them like a necklace made of beads, joined together in a chain. Amino acid formulas (like Neocate LCP) don’t contain any cow’s milk protein and instead are made up of individual amino acids, so they are very unlikely to cause an allergic reaction.1
1. Allergy UK. Your baby’s cow’s milk allergy journey [Online]. 2022. https://www.allergyuk.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Cows-Milk-Allergy-Roadmap-for-Parents.pdf [Accessed March 2026].
What to expect when starting Neocate LCP
When your baby starts Neocate LCP 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 Neocate LCP.
Formula appearance
- Neocate LCP can appear less “milky” than other formulas. Don’t be tempted to add extra powder to change the appearance unless advised otherwise by your doctor or dietitian; this is how it is supposed to look.
Altered stool frequency and colour
- You may notice some initial changes to your baby’s stools, e.g. colour, consistency, smell and frequency. These changes may take a few days or up to a few weeks to settle.
- A baby on Neocate LCP typically has green stools. This is perfectly normal and is due to the way Neocate LCP is digested. It’s also normal for bowel movements to decrease in frequency once your child starts on Neocate LCP.
- 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 Neocate LCP. This is common and should settle. It is just your baby’s body getting used to digesting Neocate LCP.
Increased appetite
- Your baby may start drinking larger amounts of Neocate LCP 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 Neocate LCP
Continue to feed your baby on demand, unless your doctor or dietitian advises otherwise.
Please follow the instructions on the packaging which show you how to correctly prepare the formula, 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, the Nutricia Resource Centre team are here to help. Our expert dietitians and nutritionists can offer guidance, answer questions, or simply provide reassurance. You can contact the team by phone:
Great Britain: 01225 751 098
Northern Ireland: 0800 783 4379
Republic of Ireland: 1800 923 404
You may also find it helpful to explore trusted organisations such as Allergy UK, NHS, IFAN or HSE 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.
Also on this website
Where to find us
- All Nutricia products listed on this website are Foods for Special Medical Purposes and should be used under medical supervision. Nutricia Ireland Limited is a company registered in the Republic of Ireland with company number 106997. VAT Number IE4800652P
- © 2024 Nutricia. All rights reserved.