milk protein allergy & eczema

[Lisa B]

Hi guys,

My DS was diagnosed with a milk protein allergy at about 9 weeks old. The main symptom led to very fussy feeding. He had always been difficult to feed and had low weight gains but things always became worse when milk was introduced. We see a paediatrician.

Anyhow, we were asked to trial dairy back into his diet at 12 months as kids often outgrow the allergy. We have now trialled it back in on 2 occasion and both times have led to increased eczema but no other symptoms. He is eating great now. We trialled twice to see if the eczema was a coincidence or not as he often get eczema. His eczema is definitely worse with milk.

I would like my DS to have milk because he has very low and slowing weight gain (I think he is off the percentile chart, or maybe about 10% at the most), although there has been some improvement in his weight in the last month or so. The fat content would be great for him, not to mention the calcium. We are also using soy and I don't really want him to have so much soy in his diet if i can avoid it.

My questions is: Do you think he should stay off dairy if it causes eczema and that's the only symptom? We are seeing the paediatrician in a couple of weeks so will get further advice then, but what would you do between now and then?

[Traveller]

Yes I would keep him off dairy if it is the only symptom. This is the only sign of milk protein allergy that my son has too and we keep him completely milk free because if his body is reacting like that externally, then who knows what turmoil is going on inside. The last time we trialled dairy, DS1 caught a cold that he just couldn't shake for weeks and I am convinced it was because his immune system was so overloaded dealing with the dairy that it couldn't fight the simple virus.

If you would like him to eat more calorie rich foods you could try avocado, coconut cream in soups and casseroles and try baking wheat biscuits or oaty cakes (dairy free, just replace butter with nuttlex and milk with soy) for his snacks. Good luck

[surprised]

Are you sure he's ok with soy? Soy and milk proteins are very similar so if milk is a problem, often soy is too.

[Eenee]

Have you tried goats milk?

[Lisa B]

Traveller - true, true about not knowing what it is doing on his inside.

Surprised - yes we have been very, very lucky with soy. He has no identifiable reaction to soy.

Em - no we haven't tried goats milk because it was my understanding that milk protein excluded goats milk as well.

[Eenee]

Nope it doesn't, it can but not always. DD is extremely sensitive to milk protein but with goats milk she is fine. I buy a organic goat milk formula online Holle brand as that way it doenst go to waste if she doesn't drink the lot by use by date. Dd is also still breastfeed though.