Ear infection question- dairy concern

[martinsmom]

Hi, I'm new to posting here but have been reading a lot.

I have a DD Mandy who is 14 months.  I work full time, so I nursed and pumped for her for her first year.  At a year I stopped pumping and transitioned her to cow's milk.  I kept nursing at night.  Well, she never had an ear infection in her first year and now she has had 3 in 2 months.  The only think I can think of that changed was the milk, although I think she has also been eating more wheat too.  From what I've been reading both of those can cause excess mucus.  (Or, it's just cold season at daycare...) So, after the 3rd diagnosis on Friday I took her off dairy (I also added an extra nursing session back in so she's nursing after work, before bed and in AM.)  Her doctor had suggested we try it an go to either goat or almond.  I chose goat since it's supposed to be close to BM protein wise.

I got goat milk for her which I've read doesn't have the mucus reaction and she's eating it okay.  I also got goat yogurt which she really likes.

So, I have a few questions I was hoping I could get some thoughts on:

She was eating cow based cheese and yogurt from about 6 mo to 12 months with no problem, I cut these out to be safe as well- but based on no earlier reaction would it be okay to give her cow cheese and yogurt?

How much calcium, fat and protein does she need in addition to nursing 3x does she need- she was getting cow milk 3x/ day plus 2 servings of cheese and a YoBaby every other day.  What are alternatives I can use?

I did get a kids organic fish oil yesterday and gave her a tiny bit the past two days- it's lemon flavored and she sucked it down.  The bottle says for kids 2 and up though- is there a risk of giving it to a 14mo old?

What else would you try, or what would you do differently to try and get her ears to heal up?  (We had her in for an all clear check on Monday and they were good and by Thursday it was back.)  She is on anti biotics - which now I am reading probably don't make a difference- so that was part of my getting her some goat yogurt for the active cultures.

How long will it take to see if the switch off milk is helping.

Also, I never limited dairy til now- so it should be fine for me to keep eating dairy, right?

Thank you so much for your help!

[Marnica]

First of all, I wouldn't stress about getting to to have so much diary. Many kids have dairy allergies or intolerances and are off all dairy. I would continue with the no cow's dairy and only goat dairy for a few weeks and see what kind of results you get. Then Id add in the cow's yougurt and cheese and see what happens,

Something like 85% of ear infections are viral in nature. antibiotics won't do anything and cause all kinds of other problems. I would def be giving your DD a good probiotic (yogurt is not emough).

Chriopractic is excellent for treating ear infections.

My naturopath told me how to treat and Ive had great luck with this not only for My DS but I actually have cured both my parents and saved them from antibiotics that their doc had prescribed) who are in their 70's of ear infections. Their docs were quite inpressed.

place a few drops of 3% hydrogen peroxide in the ear and let sit for about 10 min (it will bubble like mad - this is a good thing!). After empying that ear place 3 drops of garlic/muellin drops in the ear and let sit another 10 min.

I do this while DS is watching TV. He doesn't love it, but he cooperates if the TV is on. Works like a charm and no nasty ABX!

Fish oil is fine for kids under 2 yrs. My ND started DS on CLO when he was about 1 yr old.

[tanyalynn]

Originally Posted by martinsmom 

Hi, I'm new to posting here but have been reading a lot.

I have a DD Mandy who is 14 months.  I work full time, so I nursed and pumped for her for her first year.  At a year I stopped pumping and transitioned her to cow's milk.  I kept nursing at night.  Well, she never had an ear infection in her first year and now she has had 3 in 2 months.  The only think I can think of that changed was the milk, although I think she has also been eating more wheat too.  From what I've been reading both of those can cause excess mucus.  (Or, it's just cold season at daycare...) So, after the 3rd diagnosis on Friday I took her off dairy (I also added an extra nursing session back in so she's nursing after work, before bed and in AM.)  Her doctor had suggested we try it an go to either goat or almond.  I chose goat since it's supposed to be close to BM protein wise.

Some kids don't tolerate any dairy, so see how it goes with the goat milk.  My kids have different reactions to liquid milk vs cheese (my son vomits liquid milk, and cheese issues were very subtle), though we are dairy free now.  And I've heard of other kids having different reactions to liquid milk (and ice cream) vs cultured/fermented dairy.  So some guess-and-check is needed.

I got goat milk for her which I've read doesn't have the mucus reaction and she's eating it okay.  I also got goat yogurt which she really likes.

So, I have a few questions I was hoping I could get some thoughts on:

She was eating cow based cheese and yogurt from about 6 mo to 12 months with no problem, I cut these out to be safe as well- but based on no earlier reaction would it be okay to give her cow cheese and yogurt?

I'd wait until things are stable, and you're _sure_ you're out of the cycle of EIs, and then introduce them.  Changing a lot at once makes it hard to troubleshoot.

How much calcium, fat and protein does she need in addition to nursing 3x does she need- she was getting cow milk 3x/ day plus 2 servings of cheese and a YoBaby every other day.  What are alternatives I can use?

We cook with a lot of fat, I cook with tallow and lard.  At times I've made various snacks with coconut oil too.  Are you vegetarian?  The protein in the milk isn't likely a huge issue if you're omni, and even if you're vegetarian, it's not difficult to at least the RDA of protein.   I use cell salts (there's a thread here in Health & Healing) to help with absorption/utilization of the calcium my kids do consume, plus I make stock regularly (the kind where you simmer bones, the mineral leach out), I try to make nettles infusions regularly, and some people do salmon or other small fish with the bones regularly. 

I did get a kids organic fish oil yesterday and gave her a tiny bit the past two days- it's lemon flavored and she sucked it down.  The bottle says for kids 2 and up though- is there a risk of giving it to a 14mo old?

It's fine, you may want to look into the pros and cons of cod liver oil vs fish oils.

What else would you try, or what would you do differently to try and get her ears to heal up?  (We had her in for an all clear check on Monday and they were good and by Thursday it was back.)  She is on anti biotics - which now I am reading probably don't make a difference- so that was part of my getting her some goat yogurt for the active cultures.

I'd find a doc who does cranial-sacral, or at least a chiropractor, to help with drainage.  And I'd either seek out a good quality probiotic supp or try some goat milk kefir, or fermented veggies (I ferment kimchee, it's really yummy and I can see that it's good at helping my DD's digestion).  Yogurt is better than nothing, but there are other things out there with more strains of bacteria and higher bacterial counts.

How long will it take to see if the switch off milk is helping.

I'd try to get into a chiro or CST doc and do a few sessions, along with a good probiotic, and then you just start watching and waiting.  If it's been 3 EIs in 2 months, then watch how many colds she gets in the next month or two, and do any turn into EIs, and just see.

Also, I never limited dairy til now- so it should be fine for me to keep eating dairy, right?

Thank you so much for your help!