Kefir and congestion

[maba]

I've been giving my 17 mo a shot glass full of raw kefir for the past 10 day or so. He's sounding really congested when sleeping for the last 2-3 days, but doesn't have a runny nose. He's been breast-fed from birth and the only dairy he's consumed in the past is some yoghurt (just a few times) and  cream, the cheese he eats is made from sheep's milk. I cook his food in ghee. I'm wondering if the kefir could be causing the mucous. I keep reading about dairy causing mucous. Would someone enlighten me on this topic? Should I stop the kefir to see if the congestion goes away? I'm kind of scared to stop temporarily because then it would be hard to get him used to the taste again, considering how beneficial to health kefir is said to be. TIA for your responses.

[MoonWillow]

I definitely think the dairy could be causing the mucous. Maybe you could try a powered probiotic until he is feeling better? 

[maba]

Thanks MoonWillow! Does it mean he could be intolerant to dairy or that maybe it was too much kefire for his body to handle? I gave him less than 1/4 tsp of therbiotic infant formula probiotic today and he had diarrhea. The recommended dose is 1/4 tsp. Should I reduce the dose even further? And if I start giving him kefire after the congestion goes away, should I stop giving the probiotic?

[maba]

*kefir*

[MoonWillow]

Probiotics can cause either diarrhea or constipation as they re work the balance of bacteria in the gut but you may want to try one that has no dairy and see how he does. It's all trial and error I'm afraid!