Question re eczema, dairy and formula!

[madamy]

DS (6 months) is exclusively breastfed and has developed fairly severe (IMHO!)eczema over the past few months. We're currently waiting for dermatology review as he's not really responding to GP treatment.

He's had a very slow/static weight gain since he was 2 months old, although he feeds well and is content. He's also a poor sleeper, although his current flare up isn't helping! I seem to recall reading that these 2 factors plus the eczema, could indicate other allergies - poss dairy. So until we see dermatologist, I'm weaning him dairy free.

I'm going out tomorrow night and have been trying to express incase he needs milk whilst I'm out, but have gained a measly 2oz over the past week! Would either soya formula or the one you can buy over the counter at Boots (sorry, can't remember name) be suitable to leave for dh? My sister has both as she tried them recently with her dd, so I can get hold of either to try. I know he might turn his nose up, but it would give dh a chance to try!

I really want to go out as it's a special evening for a friend and don't want to miss it.

[StrawberryMartini]

I would give him some first before you go out in case he has a reaction - has he had any soya before?

[madamy]

No he's not had soya. Can that cause sensitivities too? He has had a couple of 4oz bottles of aptimil about 2/3 months ago, also when we went out and didn't have any immediate reaction.

[StrawberryMartini]

Well if it's just for the evening then I'd stick to the formula that you've already tried with him - or get up at 2am tonight and express - it's the best time for milk production! I wouldn't give him soya without trying it first.

[naturopath]

Have you been eating dairy yourself? If so, he might be ok? SOrry, not sure, just know that my ds has a reaction every time I eat dairy.

[madamy]

I eat dairy and he's not reacted. I don't think he'll have a full on reaction as such, but I guess I was thinking that keeping him dairy free might help the ezcema. TBH, he quite happily drank the formula previously!

I would get up and express at 2am, but he obviously knows I have a good supply then as that's one of his feed times lol!

[iammillie]

my ds has gradually developed dry red patches of eczema, he has been eating solids since september and was doing fine until he had yogurt which made skin worse, he is now dairy free but had quite a severe reaction to wheat and has now got broken red sore skin almost all over. we got various lotions and potions and it is improving but just wondering if anyone elses dc had such reactions to wheat?

[gigglewitchyouamerrychristmas]

how about trying goats milk (pasteurised) rather than cows?
my boys are both intolerant to dairy stuff, DS1 had lots of eczema, the lot vanished when we gave him goats milk. nutritionally it is good, and you can find lots more information from me and other mn-ers and also on t'internet. my DS1 didn't put any weight on from 10mo when i stopped bf-ing him, til 20mo, when we at last discovered purely by guesswork and trial that he had a prob with cows milk etc. since then he has been great, totally dairy free for over five years now and the right size and weight for his age (7).

well done for exploring all this now!
good luck

[gigglewitchyouamerrychristmas]

iammillie - there was a thread about exactly this last week so i'm off to dig it out for you if i can

[karen999]

My dd was prescribed soya formula at 5 months because of severe excema. Made a big difference although funnily she is BLW and has had dairy/wheat and has had no flare-ups....I keep a food diary but so far so good. The doctor said that it would prob be something which she would grow out of and happily I think he may be right. She still has it but not as bad.

[gigglewitchyouamerrychristmas]

iammillie and anyone else passing, have a nosey at this
www.mumsnet.com/Talk?topicid=29&threadid=411946#8366549
it isn't the one i was looking for from last week, but tis much better.

canstleepwontsleep where are you?! that's who you need, but the thread i've hopefully linked to should help