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Infant feeding

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Sicky baby with Eczema - Help needed!

12 replies

choby80 · 01/02/2014 16:50

I wondered if anyone could help me...my little one is 11 weeks old, EBF, and we're having a couple of issues. Since about 6 weeks he has been really sicky - throwing up all over me and him after every feed. Still gaining weight so HV says nothing much to worry about, but sometimes he is in discomfort when he throws up which is sad to see.
And now he has developed rough skin all over, which I think might be eczema, we've been rubbing him all over with coconut oil every night after bathtime since he was tiny so it's not red and angry, but it's not going away.
So my questions are this - does this sound to anyone like CPMI? And could it be causing both the throwing up, and the skin condition.
At the moment I'm trialling going dairy free, and I'm going to try a new washing powder...but was also considering trying dairy free formula - Any advice really appreciated.

OP posts:
crazykat · 01/02/2014 17:01

I've no advice about allergies but the rough/dry skin sounds like my ds1. All of my DCs get it to an extent but ds1 is the worst. The doctor prescribed diprobase cream and shower cream which are brilliant when it flares up.

I've Ben told that E45 is also really good but I'm very allergic so haven't tried it on ds.

Superworm · 01/02/2014 18:45

Yes it does sons like it could be. Does he have any other symptoms?

If you are trying dairy free it's best to cut soy out as 40% of CMPA have problems with soy too.

Kellymom handsome good info on it.

SpoonfulOfJam · 01/02/2014 19:29

Issues with dry skin and eczema. E45 dried him out terribly. Emolient cream did nothing. Eucarin is currently working wonders. Quite expensive for a small tube- check for the one that is suitable for babies. Hoping we can get it on prescription.

choby80 · 01/02/2014 19:47

Thanks for the advice on Soy - I didn't know that so will stop using soya milk as an alternative right now!
Will continue using coconut oil I think for his skin as I'd like to keep using natural solutions as much as possible (my skin doesn't agree with E45 either!)
Just wish he wasn't throwing up so much, his clothes are almost always damp which can't be helping!!

OP posts:
fish88 · 01/02/2014 22:31

From your OP it sounds like you are bathing him every night. Is it possible that this is drying out his skin? Have you tried bathing him less regularly?

Auntierosemary · 01/02/2014 23:08

Hi there. Much sympathy, this sounds stressful. A few possibilities strike me. One is a cmp allergy. Another is reflux, though this is often a symptom of a dairy allergy. And another is that it is two separate problems - sensitive skin as well as some sort of digestive problem. Another is another food allergy. Most common I think are dairy, soya, egg, gluten, legumes (peanuts, lentils, peas).

In my experience of two allergic kids, food allergies go hand in hand with excema and dry skin. The skin takes a lot longer to clear up than the tummy trouble. I'd give it at least a week from cutting something out from your diet to see any difference in your baby if it is an allergy so be patient!

Maybe try a very bland allergen-free diet for a couple of weeks and see if that helps, then reintroduce foods one at a time? There are lots of threads on here with meal ideas for various allergies. As a start, stick to potatoes, meat and root veg for a few days until you get your head round it all!

And oat milk is a good replacement for cows milk - soya can make you v windy in my experience,as well as being a common allergen.

Surcare is a good laundry liquid for sensitive skin and others suggest doing an extra rinse, something I have never got round to trying.

You mention trying a dairy free formula - if you can resist this for now and continue bf I think that might be better, just because you can totally control what your baby gets in his feeds that way, and the only df milk you don't need prescription for (and prob won't get a prescription for without dietician referral etc) is soya formula and that's not suitable for babies under six months. Also, even prescription milk doesn't agree with some babies so if you keep up the bf you know he will always be able to have some milk!

Good luck x

choby80 · 02/02/2014 08:34

Thanks for all the advice, have ordered some surcare from Mr. Sainsbury so will try that for his skin and stick with a bland diet for the foreseeable future.

Reluctant to stop bathing him every night just because he gets so covered in milk during the day, but we just use water - should we new using something in the water, is oilatum worth ?

OP posts:
Auntierosemary · 02/02/2014 11:31

I smother my kids in diprobase before they get in the bath to protect their skin, as well as after. We never put anything in the bath apart from oilatum tho I'm not sure it does much!

SpoonfulOfJam · 02/02/2014 11:52

Oilatum dried my baby's skin out. I was told to cream or oil before bathing to avoid drying out. Havent tried as yet as eucarin is working really well.

spekulatius · 02/02/2014 17:15

I was told by dermatology nurse that bathing only dried skin out and washes away natural oils if you use soap. If you only use water or a bath oil you can bath DC every day as long as he's comfortable whilst bathing, like he's not scratching all over. I use QV cream and bath oil. Got it from amazon in the beginning but you can also buy it from pharmacy. though we now get it on prescription.

choby80 · 03/02/2014 20:47

Saw the doctor today (after another evening of crying and vomiting got me down) and he has prescribed Oilatum, a petroleum based moisturiser and Gaviscon for the reflux.
He also suggested a steroid cream, but I'm hoping that the Oilatum, less bathing and a different laundry detergent will fix the eczema.
Has anyone any experience of infant gaviscon?

OP posts:
Auntierosemary · 03/02/2014 21:22

Hi glad you have been given something! We tried gaviscon for a while. It worked a bit but we subsequently found that ranitidine was a bit more effective. But ultimately our problem was food allergies which was causing silent reflux for us. If it were me I would persevere with the bland diet while trying the reflux medicine, but maybe also press for a dietician referral. You might even be able to self refer, don't know how it works in your area. How persuadable is your health visitor? That is who referred us. www.littlerefluxers.co.uk has lots of useful info too x

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