If your DC was allergic to formula - how did it show?

[abigboydidit]

DS had a CMP allergy but was never given formula so I didn't notice until we were weaning him and he came out in hives when eating porridge made with cow's milk. I then discovered if you dabbed milk on his skin a hive would appear. He never vomited after ingesting milk or milk products.

DD is 5 months old and had formula while in hospital (about 20-30 mls) and I have tried her with some again over the past few days (I tried dabbing milk on her and there was no hive). She is a spewy baby at the best of times and also has a tendency with a bottle to slurp the entire contents down, even though I would imagine she's taking more in than at a breast feed. However, the first day I tried her with formula she did a huge vomit about 5-6 hours afterwards (she had also had a subsequent BF before the vomit) and today she has done a fairly hefty spew about 2 hours after the formula (no BF in between).

I can't decide if it is coincidence or if am just more aware of the formula spews than her BF ones as I am paranoid about allergies! I asked the consultant at the allergy clinic and he advised giving her the initial formula in hospital and said there was no reason not to try her with it at home as she did not have any reaction.

Thanks in advance!

Hi, my DS has CMP allergy, we first noticed it at about 6 months when we tried him with formula. He vomited straight away, got very upset, his eyes swelled up and he came out in red blotches and hives on his face and upper body. When I thought about it, he also came out in hives if he got any milk product on his skin, namely when playing in custard at baby group!
He's 13 months now, and still has the contact hives thing. He had a few spoonfuls of food the other day that had milk in and he wasn't sick, but did retch a lot and rub his eyes.
I would say with an allergy that the baby would be sick straight away, but they're all different, and I think you're right to be cautious if there's family history.
HTH.