To just give them some cows milk?!

[OhToBeASeahorse]

Last summer DS (then nearly 2) started to get bad eczema. He also pood very frequently but that has been since birth. By September we trialled going dairy free and the eczema disappeared- nappy situation remained.

In March the eczema started to reappear. Ge had changed childcare but they are adamant he isnt having dairy.

DD is 8 months and breastfed. When she was tiny I thought that she was more unsettled when I had dairy so I cut it out. 2.nights ago I had a few chocolate buttons and she was slightly more unsettled last night (crap sleeper anyway).

Its doing my head in checking every packet of everything, they are both dairy and soya free and I thought egg might be a trigger for her too so i dont have that.

It's all so unclear. I'm starting to wonder if DS's exzema is a sun or heat related thing.

AIBU to just give them both a mug ful of cows milk and see what happens? I'm so exhausted thinking about it all.

Speak to the dr rather than filling them full of something they might be allergic to.

Dr is useless. 'Could be dairy intolerance, it would be unlikely though, test it and see' is all I get.

I would. My granddaughter has only just been diagnosed with a milk protein allergy at six. She has had bowel issues all this time and odd rashes. My DD BF, barely had diary and I was vegan. So it was slightly hidden. It's rare that GPs concern themselves with this.

Unless your child is a baby cow then no, you should not give them cows milk.

Google “imap milk ladder” and follow that to gradually reintroduce cows milk into their diets - at each stage of you don’t see a worsening in symptoms then they can tolerate that stage, and if you do see it worsen then you go back to the previous stage.

I am also dairy and soya free with my little one and it is exhausting I agree.

@LoveMyBlanket that's a good plan, thank you. It's so hard to know when its so unclear.

@OrangeRug thanks so much for your valuable contribution

No don't do it like that OP - even if its just because they haven't had it in so long there's likely to be a reaction.

I've breastfed a child with CMPA (and egg allergy) and its really hard. As a pp said, use the IMAP ladder. On you, to start with. Track any symptoms you notice - I think the goal is to have something three times a week without a major reaction before you move up to the next step.

Our main symptoms were digestive though, it sounds like you cut it out without a diagnosis which can cause some issues reintroducing just because they're not used to it. I would track your sons symptoms go a bit slowly but unless eczema radically worsened I would try and move up. The longer you cut out an allergen completely, the greater the risk of anaphylaxis so the goal is to get them both to tolerate as much dairy as they can without a bad reaction.

Do it according to the IMAP ladder, keep a journal of symptoms, you'll know soon enough.

Oh also just FYI - I was able to get to the top of the IMAP ladder when my daughter was about 1, but still breastfed: its taken us till 2 1/2 to get her all the way to the top on her food. But dietitian said the exposure in my milk was really good as it was maintaining some level of exposure. So even if it feels your'e not able to go all the way up at the start, you'll get there.

@cindarellasbelly well that's more help than my GP has ever been so thank you!!!

Do you think it would be best for me to do the milk ladder rather than the baby? I'm concerned that will make things less clear.

@OrangeRug

Unless your child is a baby cow then no, you should not give them cows milk.

🙄🙄🙄

Definitely use the milk ladder. We completed with my dd when she was about 15 months but it was our second time trying. First time she could only tolerate baked in milk (biscuits etc) but not cheese or any higher. Fortunately she grew out of it. Not sure if you have spoken to a dietician but definitely insist on a referral from your GP for both kids if not, they will support you through. I did have to see a paediatrician first who tried telling me I was a neurotic first time mum before I got the dietician appointment but I’m so glad I stuck to my guns.

DS was the same. He got a little eczema even without milk - the heat definitely makes it worse as it itches more - but if he had a cup of cows milk he'd just throw it straight back up. I didn't avoid all food with milk in though as he could tolerate yoghurt and chocolate/cakes with milk in. It really is just a case of try it and see. I would stay as you are with the youngest but I'd experiment with the older one, it really is just a case of try it and see

I really wouldn’t worry about changing your diet for breastfeeding. Despite what mums are told, there is little evidence that allergens in BM are present in enough quantities to cause an allergic reaction in infants. CMPA is massively over diagnosed especially in breastfed infants. There’s a good article in the bmj but it’s behind a paywall but this article sums up the findings.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200413132756.htm

However, their analysis of 13 studies of breastmilk composition suggests less than one millionth of the protein from cow's milk travels through to breast milk, and this would be too small to trigger a reaction in most allergic children.

With the 2 year old id be tempted to just try the milk ladder thing and see what happens if the GP is useless.

Can you not get your older child tested? DS was diagnosed with CMPA when a baby. When he was about 2 he was called in for tests, they did a skin prick test first which was clear, then gave him small increments of milk to see if there was any reaction. This was done at hospital just in case there was a severe reaction. We were told they had to do it, because as he had been dairy free for so long, he could have a bigger reaction than he might have had in the past. Luckily he had grown out of it.

I certainly wouldn't be going full on with a cup of milk.

Are they not running allergy clinics at the moment due to COVID?

DS's HV was rubbish when we were first trying to work out whether DS was allergic to milk, her solution was give him a large amount of milk and if he has a serious reaction you know he is allergic. Luckily our doctor was more sensible and referred us to a consultant. We also got milk on prescription (I was breast feeding but beginning to wean him and used the formula milk for cooking, having with cereal etc)

Thank you. GP has refused a dietician - but he did refer to me as a gastroenterologist. For reasons that remain unclear.

My ds breaks out in a massive eczema type rash all on his torso every year when it first gets warm, after two weeks it goes away but every year like clockwork it comes back as soon as he gets hot for the first time. He also had a dairy intolerance as a baby and we used the milk ladder a few posters have mentioned and he’s fine with dairy now.

Right so I reckon milk ladder for both of them and see how we go? Meanwhile I'll hold off.

Doesnt help that DD is bothering her neck and I dont know why

@OhToBeASeahorse could you be asked to be referred to an allergy clinic if they refuse to refer you to a dietician

I've not heard of allergy clinics. I'll ask him, thank you.

It's been a trying time.

I bet. I hated the reading the label thing, especially as manufacturers change their ingredients so you can't rely on them being the same all the time. Heaved a huge sigh of relief when DS was given the all clear, and then when he went to Primary School his best friend had a dairy allergy and so had to go back to reading labels whenever he came to our house!

There are many things you don't realise have dairy in. We also had relatives who didn't believe in dairy allergy so that added to the stress.

@OrangeRug always one moron for every thread.

The eczema is probably heat related - my little sisters is always worse from March-October. Is there sand at the new childcare? It’s a big trigger for her, as are most sun creams.

@DingleyDel

I really wouldn’t worry about changing your diet for breastfeeding. Despite what mums are told, there is little evidence that allergens in BM are present in enough quantities to cause an allergic reaction in infants. CMPA is massively over diagnosed especially in breastfed infants. There’s a good article in the bmj but it’s behind a paywall but this article sums up the findings. www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/04/200413132756.htm

However, their analysis of 13 studies of breastmilk composition suggests less than one millionth of the protein from cow's milk travels through to breast milk, and this would be too small to trigger a reaction in most allergic children.

With the 2 year old id be tempted to just try the milk ladder thing and see what happens if the GP is useless.

Hmm yeah... so please explain how my son's symptoms completely disappeared once I'd cut dairy and soya from my diet when he was 4 months old and exclusively breastfed? I didn't imagine the explosive green and bloody poo and vomiting that gradually lessened over a few weeks after I'd cut them out until he had totally normal baby poo and no sick. Oh, and that reappear if I ever accidentally eat something with dairy in

@OrangeRug

Unless your child is a baby cow then no, you should not give them cows milk.

Helpful.

@LtJudyHopps omg yes there is sand!!!!