Spotlight of the Month – Amy Langfield

This month, I’m thrilled to shine a light on a company that’s truly making a difference in the lives of so many families—Amy Langfield the co-founder of Grow with Iris. As a milk formula brand designed specifically for children with dairy allergies, their mission is nothing short of amazing. In a space where safe, nutritious options can be hard to come by, Grow With Iris steps in with compassion, innovation, and unwavering dedication.

More than just a formula company, they are advocates for inclusion, growth, and health—ensuring that no child is held back by what they can’t have. With a focus on gentle, allergy-friendly ingredients and a deep love for the families they serve, Grow With Iris is rewriting the story for kids with dairy sensitivities—and I couldn’t be more inspired to share their journey.

1. Tell us a little bit about yourself and what your involvement is in the allergy community?

I’m Amy Langfield, co-founder of Grow with Iris and mum to Iris, who was diagnosed with multiple severe allergies including dairy, eggs, oats, tree nuts, peanuts, sesame, soya and various fruits after experiencing her first anaphylactic reaction as a baby. My journey into the allergy community began not by choice but by necessity—when your child has severe allergies, you quickly become immersed in this world. Iris is the reason Grow with Iris exists, it was born out of frustration, because of the lack of choice and inclusion when it comes to baby and toddler nutrition.

Through Grow with Iris, I’ve become actively working to advocate for better options for allergy families. My co-founder Sophie Paynter has a similar story with her son Leni, who was diagnosed with non-IgE allergy colitis. Together, we’ve built relationships with paediatric dietitians, allergy specialists, and most importantly, a community of parents who understand the daily challenges of raising children with food allergies. We’re not just business owners—we’re part of this community ourselves.

2. What inspired you to create your brand Grow with Iris, can you tell us a little bit about it?

Grow with Iris was born from frustration and necessity. When my daughter Iris was diagnosed with multiple allergies, I struggled to find a growing up drink that didn’t taste like it was “made in a test tube.” After my GP advised me to try “any old formula,” which resulted in Iris experiencing her first anaphylactic shock, she was prescribed a specialist formula—the only option available in the UK for her needs. But it was highly synthetic, smelled dreadful, and was so unpalatable that she refused to take it.

I found myself in the position that so many allergy parents face—trawling the internet for alternatives, eventually finding limited choices that had to be expensively imported from overseas. It was a lightbulb moment: if I was struggling this much, other parents must be too. That’s when I decided to create what I couldn’t find—a nutritious, plant-based growing up drink that was free from major allergens but actually tasted good.

Sophie joined me, bringing her branding expertise and her own experience with her son Leni, and together we developed Grow with Iris. It’s the only UK-made growing up drink to use pea protein and coconut MCT oil, fortified with 16 essential vitamins and minerals, and officially free from dairy, eggs, gluten, soya, peanuts and tree nuts. Most importantly, it’s one that children actually enjoy drinking!

3. Being an allergy mum what would you say is the most important advice that you have for other allergy parents navigating their children’s food allergies?

The most important advice I’d give to other allergy parents is to trust your instincts and never be afraid to advocate for your child. When professionals dismissed my concerns or suggested “any old formula” would do, I knew something wasn’t right. Parents often know their children better than anyone, and that intuition is invaluable.

I’d also strongly recommend building your support network and educate friends, family, caregivers and teachers so you can empower them to be allergy allies, making sure not to overwhelm them or scare them. Connect with other allergy parents, and seek out specialists who take your concerns seriously and show an element of empathy and understanding. The allergy journey can feel isolating, but finding your community makes an enormous difference—not just for practical advice but for emotional support too.

Finally, be kind to yourself. The learning curve is steep, and mistakes will happen despite your best efforts. The constant vigilance required is exhausting, and it’s okay to acknowledge that. Remember that with each challenge, you’re becoming more knowledgeable and better equipped to handle the next one. And whenever possible, look for ways to bring joy and normality to your child’s relationship with food—that’s something we’ve really tried to incorporate into Grow with Iris, creating a product that feels like a positive choice rather than a compromise.

4. Could you tell us where you can purchase your product Grow with Iris and what qualifies someone to benefit from using this product (symptoms to look out for etc indicating  a non dairy milk formula)?

Grow with Iris is currently available direct-to-consumer through our website (https://www.growwithiris.com/), Amazon Prime, and soon to be via TikTok Shop. We offer different formats including single-serve sachets which are perfect for trying the product, travel or caregivers, single pouches with approximately 18 servings, and our 6-pouch box which provides 108 servings.

Our product is nutritionally tailored for children aged 12 months to 4 years but is suitable for bigger kids too. 

Children with diagnosed cow’s milk protein allergy may experience symptoms like skin reactions (eczema, hives, rashes), gastrointestinal issues (vomiting, diarrhoea, constipation, blood in stools), respiratory symptoms (wheezing, persistent coughing), or in severe cases, anaphylaxis. If your child is showing these symptoms after consuming dairy, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for proper diagnosis.

Children with multiple food allergies often struggle to find suitable nutrition because many alternative formulas contain soya, which is another common allergen. Our product is officially free from the six major allergens (dairy, eggs, gluten, soya, peanuts, and tree nuts).

Families following plant-based diets for ethical, environmental, or health reasons will find our product aligns with their values while providing essential nutrients that can sometimes be challenging to obtain consistently in plant-based diets for young children.

Additionally, children who are intolerant to dairy (rather than allergic) or who are simply fussy eaters often enjoy our product because of its pleasant taste compared to many medical formulas and other alternatives.

While anyone can use our product, we always recommend consulting with a healthcare professional when making nutritional decisions for children with allergies or specific dietary needs.