Baby waking frequently - dairy intolerance - problem solved!

[Mamabear12]

My son who is almost five months was waking frequently. Five times a night! We couldnt figure what it was. But when we introduced formula, his sleeping got worse and he got a rash. He was only getting one or two bottles a day bc I still breastfeed. But this led me to think he must be dairy intolerant. I put him on hypoallergenic formula (only two bottles a day) I stopped eating dairy and presto. Different baby! After a few days rash went away and right away longer naps and less night waking. Now he only wakes once a night! This happened after three days of the change! I can not believe it. I knew something was not right with all the night waking and research shows that babies w milk intolerance can wake frequently at night. Just thought I would post in case someone else might have a baby waking frequently and not sure why. Might want to try cutting dairy from your diet if you are breastfeeding. At least for three weeks to see if there is a change. Anyone else have this experience?

[cakebaby]

Wow, what a great result! Did you change anything else? I've thought of cutting dairy but it seems such a PITA. Did you literally cut ALL dairy?

[TheGreatHunt]

Yes with both. Cutting all dairy was a PITA first time but not second time. First time I didn't supplement properly so ended up quite run down and with a horrible sore from lack of vitamin b. Second time around I made sure I supplemented properly and had nice foods eg advocado as a cheese replacement in burgers and sourced decent dairy free cakes. I also went gluten free for a while and felt awesome for it but I love biscuits too much to keep it up.

[Mamabear12]

Most does I go dairy free, but some days I'll have a little dairy for example if we go out to eat and I have a few bites of spinach dip or something w dairy. That's not often and bc I also give hypoallergenic formula, it helps I think. The only other change is flying to the US, which is a 5 hour time difference. That should have disrupted sleep a lot more. But we right back on schedule. So everything is good. He even takes two hour naps mid day now. My husband even said he is a different baby when it comes to his sleep. We saw a change immediately. So if you think ur baby might have intolerance, try it out. Life changing! I felt like there was no hope w his sleep.

[cupcake78]

My dd is CMPI. We saw a change in her within 24hrs of no dairy. 3 days she was brilliant.

We're now weaning on dairy free diet and she drinks prescribed hypo allergenic milk. She's brilliant! We've seen a huge difference in her.

[QuietNinjaTardis]

What symptoms are there apart from night waking/rubbish naps?

[cupcake78]

Losing weight or poor weight gain. Dry sore skin, tummy pains, refusing bottles ( if bottle fed). Constipation and or diarrhea, trouble with wind, unhappy, crying etc.

For us it was colic that kept getting worse. Poor weight gain resulting in weight loss, refusing feeds, constipation one week, diarrhea the next. Very unsettled, uncomfortable baby.

[QuietNinjaTardis]

No that's not dd, she's just a rubbish sleeper! Thank you.

[Gileswithachainsaw]

We noticed that with dd2 as well. Pretty much day one of the new milk everything improved.

[Chickz]

Can I ask how you all found out about the intolerance and allergy? Was there a blood test or skin prick test?

[Gileswithachainsaw]

I "just knew" tbh. Dd had some pretty classic symptoms and also others that I hadn't connected but which disappeared.

But I had a gut feeling really early on but it tools while for he to be able to convince drs

[Gileswithachainsaw]

Took a while.

Me

Sorry for typos

[GingerMaman]

So pleased it worked for you!

My dd is CMPA but me going dairy free has made no difference oat all ... She's refusing to take the hypo formula, so no idea what to do ...

[Gileswithachainsaw]

ginger

Are you soya free as well? Many CMPA/CMPI are also allergic/intolerant to soya as proteins are similar

[KippyVonKipperson]

Egg can be another common one. Can take a while (up to 4 weeks) to notice a difference

[Mamabear12]

For me, I noticed he was in a better mood when I cut dairy for a few days early on. But it was hard so I didn't stick w it and I told myself it was just coincidence. A couple months later when we introduce bottles of formula we noticed a huge negative reaction. He got a rash, waking more often, unsettled, very loose stools. Plus he was always a baby that couldn't drink more then an ounce or two at a time. I was a constant battle to get him to drink enough! Slow weight gain compared to his older sister. You will find older posts from me asking how to increase his feeds. As soon as I went no dairy and we switched his milk he drank more. Now he can drink 6 oz in one go! And he has a little break and can drink a couple more. Something I never thought would happen. No more milk battles!

[Mamabear12]

Also, I notice when I slip up he doesn't sleep as well during day. I need to be more strict w my diet, but find it hard :( I've never been good w changing what eat! I hope he grows out of his intolerance soon!

[Mamabear12]

Ginger, my baby refused first try. But then we mixed it 2 oz w 4 oz breastmilk a few times and the increased hypoallergenic milk until he took full bottle. It was not too difficult. Thank goodness bc I pump for most feeds and is not easy to pump all the time! So I need to give one or two bottls of the formula.

[cupcake78]

Agree to cut out soya as well. Could be another allergy!

Diagnosis for us was purely on the basis of cutting out all dairy and monitoring. It made such a difference very quickly.

Paediatrician agreed symptoms typical CMPI.

[fluffandnonsense]

Can I ask what milk you put her on?

[GingerMaman]

Hi,

We cut soya too as well as egg, fish and nuts. And no difference to the sleep.

[Mamabear12]

Fluff, we put him on similac alementum. We are in the US for four months and my husband flys back and fourth. Each time he flys to London, I make him bring back a few tubs bc they don't sell this brand in UK.

Ginger, that is so frustrating. It would be so much easier if someone could just tell us what is bothering our kids! Did u try wheat as well? I think the highest culprits are dairy, soy and wheat. There is a diet I think on dr sears or Kelly mom. Basically it's a very bland diet to start out with...where you eat the least allergenic foods to start with and introduce foods back slowly to diet. I think it starts out w two weeks eating foods like - lamb, turkey, rice, pears etc. I forgot what exactly. It's not easy though. I don't think I would be able to do it.

[cupcake78]

Was prescribed by hospital. Called Neocate. Went to gp first and they have us a mid way allergy milk which eased her symptoms a lot but didn't clear them. Then hospital changed it to Neocate and within 4 days she was much more settled. It took weeks for her stomach to settle.

If she now has anything with dairy or soya in (by accident) she cries within minutes and it doesn't stop for a long time

[Gileswithachainsaw]

We had aptamil pepti. It's not as yucky as some of the others and provided it was warned up well dd would take it. She went onto alpro junior plus at around 14 months. Luckily she's fine with soya.

We remain dairy free at three still as she's done so well but she's only just talking in sentences and I didn't want her to have milk til she could properly tell me if her tummy hurts.

[GingerMaman]

Thanks so much fellow mums!

She has had prick test for wheat, no reaction at all.

May I ask what your LO's results were to the prick test for cows milk? I ask, because based on my results, the Peadeatrician told me I don't need to stop having cows milk, which I thought was strange

My DD had no reaction to milk solution but had 5x4 to fresh milk. What was yours? Thanks!

[Mamabear12]

I don't think prick tests are always accurate.