To eat dairy even though baby has suspected allergy?!

[milkinmum]

I've had differing advice from two different consultants - my infant is exclusively breastfed and hasn't yet started weaning and shows signs of mild allergy through my breast milk, I think I've noticed a link to dairy. He has mild eczema that is controlled through regular ointments and has mucusy runny poos. However he is a happy smiley baby, his weight gain is beautiful and he feeds and sleeps well.

One consultant advised an elimination diet for 6 weeks to see if those symptoms resolve

One consultant said if he does have an allergy that actually because it's mild and manageable and he's thriving that it's best to keep it in his system so his body doesn't reject it totally and that he should outgrow it soon enough anyway.

I have asked for clarity on what the better route is and got told only I know how much my baby is suffering or not?!

As much as I don't want him to have eczema on more concerned about lifelong allergy so I guess I'm resonating more with the continuing as normal route, but I feel guilty eating things that I do suspect he is allergic too?!

@Chasingadvice Did you actually read the OP and/or thread?

One specialist has advised that the OP not give up dairy and the OP is wondering what's best for her child.

Several allergy parents on this thread have echoed that this is sensible and cutting out the food could do more harm than good.

OP is trying to make an informed decision. Your post is rude and baseless.

We had same though ended up removing dairy in toddler years as dc had constantly runny nose and cough and explosive poo. As soon as stopped dairy (well they actually tolerate goats milk) all those symptoms stopped. I take little dairy as get a headache and lots of mucus

Have you not read any of my posts?Both my DC are under the care of allergy specialists at the cutting edge of allergy research. Why would I need to teach them?

Both my DC have spent a decade plus avoiding their allergens and now several years ingesting their allergens daily. In that time the advice has changed dramatically from complete avoidance to continuing to ingest if you can tolerate. I know which has benefited my DC more. You think I shouldn't be sharing the benefit of my experience?

Interesting. Thanks. This came from my paediatrician so never thought not to trust it but they also still recommend starting food at 4 months here. So I suppose it makes sense.

Pardon?! I gave up dairy from my own free will without so much as a second thought, I waited two weeks for a referral to paeds for the paediatrician to instantly tell me that it's impossible for dairy to be the cause of his eczema and that mucus poos were normal and to resume a normal diet. I went back to eating dairy because a medical professional told me to?! A month later I couldn't shake the feeling there was a link so went back yet again chasing for a second and third opinion, hence why I've now had differing advice from two consultants. Are you just clicking on threads to be goady and try and make a new mum feel guilty? I've not once said cheese is too good to give up, how nasty and callous to imply I've said I care more about eating dairy than my new baby when all I have said is that I want to do what's best for them and is less likely to end up in any sort of long term allergy.

Not sure why I'm humouring the only nasty response with a reply - touched a nerve! Thank you for everyone for the helpful responses, I will look into the things/contacts mentioned

I think it boils down to 'if they can tolerate' and how you define tolerate. If they're just a bit fussy, fine. But if they're getting blood in stools (it can be pin prick amounts) or lots of mucous and eczema they are clearly not 'tolerating' it so you'd need to exclude. It could be you can get away with eating small amounts of lower down the ladder (a biscuit that contains milk every week or something) to maintain a small tolerance.

Examples - warning nappy pic! This was his eczema before we started using the ointment, it is more under control now

@FernGully43 the advice would be not to stop eating something you are tolerating well even if an allergy test says you are allergic.

Eg my DS is very allergic to almonds according to the tests but tolerates almond milk well so has been advised to continue eating it to potentially build tolerance.

However he is anaphylactic to peanuts so complete avoidance is the recommendation.

In the OP's case I think it would be an error to avoid dairy when the symptoms are extremely mild and could be caused by something else.

You have no idea what you’re talking about.

@Rainbowshit is quoting standard modern allergy advice. All the latest research says to keep feeding allergens if they are tolerated, as it improves the chances of building full tolerance.

My child was anaphylactic to certain nuts. We’ve religiously fed them the other nuts. Now they are testing negative to all nuts.

Google the pro nut study.

@milkinmum

My DS's eczema was much worse than this, oozing and all over his body. This was during lockdown and the GP wouldn't see him but just kept issuing moisturisers.

Eventually when we were in A&E, we saw a dermatologist who gave steroids that worked immediately. What an immense relief.

I wish we'd be given these earlier.

I also wish I'd known that eczema increases the risk of developing new allergies as the body can be exposed to food particles when touched or when they're being cooked.

As well as controlling eczema, we should wash hands before touching baby and try not to cook around them. We didn't know this and my son has allergies to eggs, chickpeas, lentils and fish (which we cooked beside his highchair all the time).

A lot of food for thought, thank you. It's so hard when there's so much varying info out there and medical professionals can't seem to even agree.

I thought the advice on allergies had changed since having mine, and as a general rule it's more harmful to cut it out. Not sure where you'd find the most up to date guidance though

I think there’s a lot of differing advice re allergies. Some is now out of date and different doctors seem to recommend different things.

My DS 11 was diagnosed with a cows’ milk protein allergy at 6 months. At that time we cut it all out of his diet and went for 6 monthly skin prick tests which still showed an allergic reaction. He accidentally during this period occasionally had some milk - and his reaction was to immediately projectile vomit. Which was a really helpful very clear allergic reaction in a way. I carried on eating dairy and breasfed as it seemed to have no negative effect on him. I would have stopped if he had been showing any symptoms.

He eventually passed the malted milk biscuit challenge in hospital and the allergy team signed us off as he can tolerate baked milk. But he still cannot eat fresh milk protein.