Siblings with allergies

[Biscuits & Gravy]

DS1 is almost 3 and is allergic to dairy. We found out when he was 10 months old. He has been dairy free since 9 months, but really only in regards to table food. I did not do an ED since the allergist did not tell me to. I cut back, but did not eliminate. He was tested for the big food allergens, and dairy was the only one he reacted to. We also avoid peanuts still. In hindsight I could have done a lot of things differently in regards to my own consumption, but I did not really understand that at the time.

DS2 is showing signs of an allergy. Eczema and a red ring on his anus are the 2 main symptoms. So I eliminated dairy beginning on Saturday. His skin seems to be slowly getting better. Red rash on his butt is still there.

I'm wondering what others' experiences with siblings have been. I wonder if it is most likely that dairy is the culprit since DS1 is allergic, or if it could be something else and food allergy in general is the common bond.

What are your experiences? How long do you think I should give it to see full improvement?

I asked our allergist about potential for allergies in DS2 while I was pregnant, and he said the new way of thinking is to not avoid allergens unless the child shows signs of allergy. So that's what I did. I wonder now if that was the right thing to do, but I really wonder if the medical world even truly knows the answer.

[changingseasons]

Just bumping you...

I only have one LO so far, so I can't answer about the siblings stuff. But I can tell you that dairy takes a couple weeks to get out of your system. You should start seeing improvements within a week though, or else there might be additional triggers. Soy allergies often run hand in hand with dairy allergies, so you might want to cut soy too if you eat it.

[Chinese Pistache]

Well, since allergies have a lot to do with maternal health and the maternal gut, it makes sense that siblings will have issues. I have 2 non-allergic older kids and 2 younger allergic kids. My first allergic child is much worse than her brother because I did a lot of gut healing between the two of them. Granted, he still has issues, but I really see them resolving with more time and support. If you have any specific questions about our situation, feel free to ask

[kjbrown92]

I have 3 kids. Oldest - no food intolerances; seasonal allergies. Middle - food intolerances from birth; seasonal allergies. Youngest - food intolerance on direct ingestion; seasonal allergies. DH has allergy-induced asthma (seasonal, cats, dogs). I have seasonal allergies. We are an "atopic" family. Because of the lineage, everyone is prone to allergies/intolerances of some sort, but not necessarily the same ones. You inherit the tendency toward it, not the actual allergy (according to doctors).

If it is dairy, and only dairy, it would be improving alot by a week. If not, then I'd say there's either another culprit or a different culprit. Soy often does go with dairy. Other big eczema triggers seem to be egg and corn.

Oh, and eczema can be either an allergy or an intolerance, so if you get him tested and there's no food "allergy" triggers, it doesn't mean there's not an intolerance lurking there as well.

[Multimomma]

Oh em gee. I have three kids with def intolerance/allergies, and every single one of them to something different. I think it says alot about MY gut issues, because for each of them it's something I craved the entire pregnancy.