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Original poster

Can a baby be intolerant to cows milk ....or is it something else

25 replies

Mosschops30 · 06/02/2006 20:52

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SleepyJess · 06/02/2006 20:56

Yes a baby CAN be.. very much so.. but a young baby is more likely to have been intolerent from the word go.. which you would probably have noticed. How old is he?

More often, babies, children and adults are prone to developing temporary dairy intolerences after a tummy bug. Some children/babies will need soya formula (Infasoy, Wysoy.. avaialble on prescription and off the shelf) for a while. Babies inolerent from the word go will be on it anyway. DS has always had it.. he is 5 now.. and just has it in his Weetabix and occasionally to drink.

Original poster
Mosschops30 · 06/02/2006 20:59

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Mosschops30 · 07/02/2006 09:09

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BudaBabe · 07/02/2006 09:13

Don't know how scientific this is but DS is intolerant to dairy - too much and he breaks out in excema so have read a bit and spoken to some friends on subject. A friend's DD is highly allergic - projectile vomited from when little but it was only properly diagnosed when she was 8 months. Milk on its own - i.e. as a drink can seem to cause a reaction when other less concentrated dairy products won't. Friend's DD can have a little cheese or yoghurt but still can't have "pure" milk - she's now 3.

I would keep him off it for another few days and then re-introduce and see what happens.

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Mosschops30 · 07/02/2006 09:20

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foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 09:25

moschops, it could be the cow's milk (but would have showed up with the aptamil I would have thought)

Did the doctor at the hospital tell you about avoiding dairy? We were told (when ds was very little by a consultant) we should avoid dairy for several weeks after a bad tummy bug because in children, a temporary intolerance can develop after a bug. I would avoid it for several weeks and then try again. If he vomits after reintroducing after that time period, I would go back to the GP.

Original poster
Mosschops30 · 07/02/2006 09:28

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foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 09:32

it is a known medical problem that after a severe bug many children develop a temporary lactose intolerance (I can't find anything on netdoctor but I'll look further for you in a minute) - the consultant told us this because the bug he had had was very nasty and we were advised to swap to other milk (soya) just for a few weeks. It's something to do with the lining of the stomach being more irritable. Ds never deveoped the intolerance as we gave him soya for a few weeks and then swapped back.

foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 09:33

this was several years ago

foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 09:37

actually, I talk rubbish - it's something to do with an enzyme!

here's a little bit on netdoctor

It may be that or it may be that he has a problem with cow's milk but it is v strange that he didn't react with the aptamil. Either way, the only way you will find out if it is the milk is by taking it out of his diet for a few weeks to see what happens.

Original poster
Mosschops30 · 07/02/2006 09:40

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londonmummy · 07/02/2006 09:40

Mosschops, I would go to your gp. He/she is the expert and will be able to advise you. You're not a neurotic mother, if you're worried then they will take you seriously. My dd seems to have an egg allergy (I'm bf and she projectile vomits whenever I've eaten eggs and breaks out into an eczema rash), so I know how stressful it is with the vomiting etc. Even if the gp can't really help he will hopefully put your mind at rest.

foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 09:44

well, I happily gave ds soya when he was little (to fill in the gap when he didn't have milk). I know someone will come along in a minute and say that there is some research that says soya isn't suitable for boys (if you search on here you'll find it) but I imagine if it is only for a week or so then it is fine (there's also rice milk etc.).

I would also go to the GP but I think you have to be clear in your mind what is causing this. If it is an extension of the bug he had then that's one thing - but if it is directly related to him drinking cow's milk, it's better to have tried that out and found it is a cause before you go to the GP because the first thing they will tell you to do is to try him without and see what happens.

Original poster
Mosschops30 · 07/02/2006 09:45

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Mosschops30 · 07/02/2006 09:47

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foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 10:00

I don't know really. Something to do with soya affecting boy's fertility (I seem to remember!). I think they don't prescribe it now for smaller babies if they can't tolerate the other formulas. There are other formulas you could try (there's an SMA one that's lactose free). I would ask the pharmacist and see what they suggest.

Londonmummy, although egg allergies are an absolute pain, they are often outgrown by the age of 5. We are about to participate in a trial to try and find out why that happens (well dd is!).

NotQuiteCockney · 07/02/2006 10:06

This sort of reaction is likely to be a reaction to cow's milk protein, not lactose (because there is lactose in formula, breast milk, all those). Yes, there is cow's milk protein in formula, but it's been altered to be less allergenic, which might just be what makes the difference to your DS.

I'd keep him on either formula or soy/rice/whatever milk for a bit, and talk to a doctor (obviously).

foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 10:18

I hope it's not cow's milk protein allergy because that's a pain! Has he been alright with things like yoghurt or cheese?

Anyway, I suppose you'll know once you take it out of his diet and see how he is.

SleepyJess · 07/02/2006 16:34

Soya isn't suitable for boys???!!! DS has only ever had soya since coming off the breast! Have never heard this.. can't imagine why.. will search for thread..

foxinsocks · 07/02/2006 17:33

I don't know sleepyjess - because my kids are older now, all of this is way past me!! I just remember seeing the thread.

madmarchhare · 07/02/2006 17:37

Another alternative would be goats milk. Not as much lactose to break down if that turns out to be the problem.

madmarchhare · 07/02/2006 17:38

(the fat content being higher than in rice or soya)

bambi06 · 07/02/2006 17:50

try goats milk, my ds couldnt tolerate formula cows milk when i introduced it and he did very well on nanny formula goat milk but you can try normal goat milk as its more easily digestible.
boys arent given soya because of the hormone level in it.soya is naturally high in one of them but cant remember which one .

CoolTurkey · 07/02/2006 18:03

You have just described exactly what happened to my son. Bad tummy bug, he seemed to recover but starting throwing up every time I gave him a bottle. I eventually made the connection, changed to soya milk and goats milk and the problem went away.

It was no coincidence as I could always tell if someone at nursery had given him milk or yogurt as he got the squits.

Original poster
Mosschops30 · 08/02/2006 09:57

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