How to get rid of dairy sensitivity in 4 1/2mo old?

[mamajaillet]

Hello everyone!!

I am posting in hopes of some suggestions from some of you who have been through this already. My new babe is very sensitive to dairy in my breastmilk. I cut it out at about 1 mo. At about 2 mo we started her on HMf Natogen probiotics. At 4 mo we started her on a series of unda numbers for her liver and gut (we are working with our naturopath, who thinks we need to heal her gut).
I really want to heal her gut and hopefully get rid of this sensitivity. I myself am drinking grape juice kefir, taking digestive enzymes, and All Flora probiotics. For some reason, I just keep thinking it should be gone, and try the smallest amount of butter (1 month ago), and cheese (last night), and I am talking a lick almost, and she has a reaction, so I know her sensitivity is pretty extreme. I just really really really want to fix it, and I believe that we can.

Any suggestions? Should I take out other big allergens, grains, anything else from my diet that might help her gut heal? Do I need to work on my gut more? I appreciate any thoughts.

Peace.

[Panserbjorne]

Yes, you need to work on your gut more, and I would stop trying to introduce the dairy for a long time. In theory you should be able to stop the reaction. Have you visited the Healing the Gut Tribe?

[wendy1221]

I agree w/ Firefaery. Stop trying to reintro the dairy. You need to wait a MINIMUM of 6 mos before trying dairy again after the last exposure.

[wenat]

I went off dairy for DS2 at 8 months of pregnancy. I accidentally ate some when he was 3.5 months old, and he reacted with a skin rash. I then had some cheese when he was 11 months old -- dry skin rash again.

So I took him to the allergist yesterday, and his skin prick test came back negative! I'm not convinced it's really negative -- we'll try him on a speck of cheese next week to see if there's a food reaction.

But I'm hoping that being (mostly) off dairy for more than a year will have given his system everything it needs so that he's not allergic to it.

And based on the allergy test result, at least I know that I haven't sensitized him to dairy through breastmilk. (Sensitization takes place during the first couple of exposures to an allergen -- that's when the body decides that this is a bad food, and creates antibodies to it.)

So, mamajaillet, I'm agreeing with everyone else -- stay off dairy for at least 6 months, if not a year. It takes a loooong time for their little guts to mature, let alone heal.

[mamajaillet]

Thank you all for your responses, I appreciate it.

I guess I knew that I needed to do more deep down in my heart, although I did not think it would take so long. It has been hard for me to accept, I was so used to having healthy babes. It has been a process, coming to accept and see that my sweet dd does truly have some serious issues. Luckily, my naturopath has taken it seriously from the beginning, taking a very preventative route.

So I will make sure not to have even the littlest amount of dairy. What do you all think about avoiding other big allergens. My naturopath says to eat everything else while we treat her gut. I know that the dairy causes more obvious problems--spitting up, fussiness, green poop. She is happy without, and has soft lovely skin for the most part. She does have these patches of dry skin that I can feel, but not see really ( they are not red). Her bum area gets red and dry, like chafed skin intermittenly. She does have a red crusty area behind each ear. I wonder if she is mildly reacting to other things too?

[CJ 5]

I am allergic to dairy and I spoke to an immunologist that does research on infants and allergies. He stated clearly to keep my child away from all dairy until she was over 2. I know it is frusterating but if she can outgrow this you are doing her a world of good. I also think you could consider acupuncture as I know it has really helped some people I know. I also recomend withdrawing wheat and don't give her any of it until she is 1 ( maybe 2) just incase.

[mamajaillet]

CJ 5-accupuncture for the babe? I hadn't come accross this, but maybe I will talk to my accupunturist about it. Thanks.

[Panserbjorne]

IT is more like accupressure, there are no needles.

I firmly believe in waiting until almost two beforeintroducing grains of any kind, especially to a babe that is already exhibiting sensitivities. Amylase (the enzyme needed to break them down) isnt' present until 1.5-2 years.

[wendy1221]

Originally Posted by firefaery

I firmly believe in waiting until almost two beforeintroducing grains of any kind, especially to a babe that is already exhibiting sensitivities. Amylase (the enzyme needed to break them down) isnt' present until 1.5-2 years.

I did NOT know that! Wow.

We have a chiropractor in the next town over who does accupressure. It helped a TON w/ Liam's reflux symptoms when he was a newborn. The reflux was from allergies, but the accupressure definitely helped until we got everything straightened out.

[mamajaillet]

Thanks everyone for the info. I think I will do an elimination diet and see if I can clear up the little bit of skin problems we are having by eliminating other foods. I know that the crusties behind her ear are probably mild eczema, right? So I definiatly want to fix her problems, rather than not, and end up with worse eczema when we start solids.

I will visit the Healing the Gut Tribe, because I do think that I may have some digestive problems as well, so I need to figure out how to heal both of us.

Oh, and is the accupressure just for the symptoms, or for the allergies? She doesn't have any symptoms unless I goof, so I am not sure if this would be something for us to check into, unless it also actually helped with the healing her body.

Thanks again.

[flowmom]

Originally Posted by mamajaillet

Any suggestions? Should I take out other big allergens, grains, anything else from my diet that might help her gut heal?

My dd is also 4.5 mo - she reacts to dairy and to wheat via my breastmilk . Wheat does seem to be an allergen that infants frequently react to via breastmilk so IMO it would be worth eliminating it for 3 wks and testing. I am doing probiotics and enzymes to heal my gut but I am not seeing any obvious changes.

[mamajaillet]

Ksenia,

I am sorry to hear that you are in the same boat.

I think you are right about the wheat.
I started an elimination diet because it did seem like she might have another sensitivity since she had the crusties behind the ears and the dry skin patches and chafed red bum area. Well two days into it, which isn't much, and her ear patched and red bum cleared up. I am guessing it is wheat, since whatever I wasn't eating that helped clear that up would have to be something I ate everyday since I have cut out so much.
It feels good to be doing the diet. It seems like she won't be able to fully heal her gut unless it is not being troubled with the things she is sensitive to.
I feel like I can not tell a difference for myself yet either, but I just feel like the kefir (and saurkraut in three weeks!!) and more fermented foods has got to help, along with finding out what we are sensitive to. I don't know what to think if it doesn't.

[KindRedSpirit]

mamajaillet and Ksenia!I'm right here with you!Ds is 4 mo. barely,and we've been learning how to be off dairy for 2 months now.: He also has the behind the ear thing,and I'm thinking tomatoes could be a problem too.I don't want to hijack the thread,but I wonder if either of you notice your baby's smelling the allergen in your milk or otherwise not wanting to ingest what they can sense has a hurt for them in it.?I'm so glad to know other moms with similar-aged babies going thru similar things!(Could we start a thread for us?If so,where might be a good place for it?)I know so many could be helped by our shared experiences,especially with such young babies.

mamajaillet,you have inspred me to actually call our naturopath-I've been on the fence about how helpful she could be,but I'm empowered to try by what your NP has you trying.THANKYOU!!!!

[wendy1221]

Originally Posted by KindRedSpirit

mamajaillet and Ksenia!I'm right here with you!Ds is 4 mo. barely,and we've been learning how to be off dairy for 2 months now.: He also has the behind the ear thing,and I'm thinking tomatoes could be a problem too.I don't want to hijack the thread,but I wonder if either of you notice your baby's smelling the allergen in your milk or otherwise not wanting to ingest what they can sense has a hurt for them in it.?I'm so glad to know other moms with similar-aged babies going thru similar things!(Could we start a thread for us?If so,where might be a good place for it?)I know so many could be helped by our shared experiences,especially with such young babies.

If your baby is starting to refuse to nurse when you've slipped on your diet, that's pretty serious. There is a mom on another allergy board I go to, who I think is an MDC mom, whose baby was weaned to Neocate, mainly b/c he had severe nursing aversion due to his allergies and she couldn't get him to nurse and he was losing weight and she still hadn't figured out his allergens. She was desparately trying to figure out what he was allergic to (he had a TON), but before she even figured everything out, he was only nursing in his sleep b/c he refused to nurse while awake. If dairy is your only problem, please please try not to slip if your baby is refusing to nurse. It could mean the end of your nursing relationship!

[Panserbjorne]

Absolutely! I had accidental exposure to soy the other day (eating macadamia nut butter which is apparently cross contaminated with soy butter) and ds nursed very little and was clearly upset and arching his back at the breast. This also happended when I tasted coconut milk yogurt that I had made with a NON DAIRY starter that had itself been started in dairy. Screaming at the breast for two days and miserable. Clearly I didn't eat tofu or ingest milk, but if I had it would have been awful. Avoid known or suspected allergens at all costs.

[KindRedSpirit]

THANKYOU for your supportive reply's!I was almost beliving the "Oh, you're just making it up"looks from family.!!!WHY WOULD I MAKE THIS UP????????????Thankfully,I think it is just dairy,(and tomatoes-tested and being proven as we type...)Also,he is HUGE!!!At 4 mo. he is 20 lb!I actually think this is due to the allergy,as in the first 2 mo.as I tryed to figure it out and get to know him,he (this is my theory)spit up everything but the heaviest cream.He is now,for the most part a happy,active baby.

[Indigo73]

I was dairy free until my little guy weened. Then I had pizza, lol.

[mamajaillet]

I have been wondering about tomatoes myself, KindRedSpirit. We just made a bunch of salsa, and have been eating what we aren't fermenting a lot. My dd now has a red butt ring, which she never has had.

I am so frustrated and sad. I just wish I could figure out what all of her sensitivites are. I started an elimination diet (well, eliminating the biggies--wheat, soy, peanuts, corn, eggs. Our naturopath said to start here. I don't know if this is enough, because it has been a week, and when I quit dairy, there was an immediate change. By the next day she was no longer a fussy high needs baby, but a happy, comfortable, let daddy hold me sometimes baby. After a week of this, she still has dry skin patches and crusty ears (although they may be a little better ). I know that it can take three weeks, so I guess I'll wait a little longer before I cut more out. I really don't want to go down to rice, apples, zucchini, turykey, and lamb (Dr. Sears style), but of course I will if I need to.

I am also wondering about her little bum. It is always red, but not rashy. Just red, and dry around where her diaper covers go around her legs. It is only ever the color of her skin in the morning when we wake up, and I am wondering if this is because I haven't eaten anything all night, and/or she doesn't nurse as much so is not getting whatever it is that is making her bum red. Any thoughts?

I'm sending out prayers for my little one all the time, I will be praying for all of your little ones too.

Peace,
Sheila

[Indigo73]

Some things take a while to clear your system. Dairy took 2 weeks before I saw any difference, but it may be because ds is allergic to the proteins not lactose intolerant. So keep it up.

Also make sure you know all the names of ingredients that can include the allergins. Casein (milk protein) is super hard to avoid. I started making more and more things from scratch so I could be sure of the ingredients.

DS still can't tolerate large amounts of soy and casein at 4.5 years old.