Dairy Allergy?

My son had severe skin rashes on his inner thigh and diaper area when I started him on whole milk and eggs. The moment, I removed eggs and milk from his diet, the rash dissappeared.

My daughter is allergic to cow's milk and eggs. I heard from a friend that goats milk was good. I researched it and comes to find out that it is a easy to digest milk. My daughter was one when we gave it to her. Here skin started to heal, she was less irritable, she did not scratch as much and she started to sleep through the night in about 4 to 5 days. She is now almost 4 and is doing great. She is able to tolerate cow's milk and eggs in small dose's. I hope this help. Goat's milk helped my daughter.
Take care,
K.

Definately do what your doctor says, but I would also suggest reintroducting milk every couple months. I have to start by saying that I am one of those few weirdos who does not believe that people should drink cows milk... EXCEPT for kids. Kids NEED milk for so many reasons, calcium being the very least one. Kids need a lot of fat and cholesterol (beyond what is made naturally in the body) and it is extremely difficult (of course not impossible) for them to get enough for their growing bodies (most specifically for their developing brains and for their skin) unless they drink full fat milk. So unless he's having a life threatening reaction to milk I would encourage you to try it every few months. But, my daughter had a similar problem, but at 8 months. I switched to soy formula, and she was fine (she also had a very runny nose and congestion along with the awful diaper rash). Then at one I weaned her onto rice milk (which she loved) and then gradually introduced whole milk and we had absolutely no problem. Sometimes kids' bodies just aren't ready for it, I think. But if he can't have milk, remember that he has to get fat (good fats) and cholesterol from other sources.

Have you tried lactaid ? My son was lactose intolorant and did very good on lactad.

Hello -- You could try oatmilk, which is pretty high in calcium for a non-dairy beverage, and is easily digestable. Or just keep giving him only water, but either way try to figure out if it's milk or eggs. I'm pretty sure those are two separate allergies. If you can go about one week with no milk and no eggs, then you shouldn't be seeing any rash, right? Then you can try giving him just one or the other (just milk). And if you get a reaction you'll know to cut it out immediately. After another week or so of neither, try giving him the other one (just eggs) and see what happens. My guess is it's the milk. My son had a similar sensitivity as a newborn (breastfeeding) -- I cut milk out of my diet and he was fine.

I'm sure your dr. will have lots of good advice too. :)

Molly:
My son, now 23, had horrible colic the first few months after he was born. He was a totally breastfed baby. My midwife suggested that I cut all dairy from my diet. Almost immediately, the colic was gone and he was a happy baby. We were vegan the first 4 years of his life. He still does not drink milk and occasionally eats cheese. He has never eaten eggs by themselves but does eat them in cooked foods like cookies or breads. He is still a vegetarian--6'1", 180 lbs. At a very young age he learned to regulate his own diet in regards to dairy products, knowing when he'd had 'too much.' I think you can offer a wide variety of foods to your son that have no dairy or eggs in them until he is a little older and can better tolerate different foods. Good luck!
P.S. - My older son has a 2-year old daughter and she is allergic to dairy and soy. They have raised her on rice milk and she is healthy and thriving!

I would stop the milk and cheese until your son sees his pediatrician. He may be lactose intolerant. My brother was allergic to milk when he was very young. He had to drink soy milk, but he outgrew the allergy and have no problem drinking milk now. He may be able to eat all other foods except for dairy products. Why not stick to his old foods for the time being until seen by his doctor. From there, he can advise you what new foods you can try with him. Good luck!

My son had a similar problem. He would break out in a rash all over his body after giving him milk. I took him to the Emergency room and was told it was an intolerance to the milk. I switched to giving him soy milk (which I was told was healthier). The rash stopped, no problems and when he was close to two years old I introduced regular milk again and he was able to tolerate it this time. The doctor had told me that they outgrow it. Well, I hope this helps. I am sure that if you give him soy milk, he will be fine. Because I know they hurt and cry when they get a bad rash like that, it is like acidity. Good luck.

When trying to determine an allergy you need to eliminate one food item at a time so you can tell which one it is. I recommend reintroducing one item at a time to determine whether it's eggs or milk. If it is milk there are so many alternatives to pasturized cow's milk - raw milk, goat milk, nut milk (almond, hazelnut, etc.) and soy milk. Most of these contain the same "fortified" vitamins and minerals that cow's milk does.

Hi Molly,
Dairy and egg products are common allergens to babies and adults alike. Other food items to avoid while you're experimenting are corn, wheat and soy. It's not that you're son has a condition...he is just one of many who reacts to these foods. The best thing is to avoid these foods while offering him a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

I hope this helps,
M.

If you haven't given him eggs before this might have triggered the allergy. Try to exclude one food choice, maybe first eggs and then wait two or three days if anything has changed.
Don't give him baby formula. Buy him Lactose Free whole milk or 2%. Ralphs carries both choices.

Good Luck!

I have a friend whose daughter is allergic to egg whites and I read that egg allergies have been on the rise. There are alternatives ... a little research should provide you with some good information. I know it's upsetting when these things happen, but think you are lucky to have found this out sooner than later -- if indeed this is he case. All my best to you and you child.

My son, 14 months, is allergic to both eggs and dairy. He has no problem with baked stuff containing eggs, but giving it to him straight causes horrible rash and stomache aches. With the dairy, he can not have ANYTHING that contains a hint of it. We substitute enriched soy milk for drinking and cooking, and to make sure he gets the fat he needs, he gets avacado a couple times a week, and each night he gets a cup of the step 2 soy formula. He's very happy and growing right on schedule, so although it can be very difficult to watch labels and find substitutes, it is possible to live without dairy and eggs!

Dear Molly......Dairy and egg allergies in babies are not all that unusual. His body is certainly demonstrating that it cannot tolerate these food groups, at this point at any rate. Putting on a topical fix for something that the body is trying to expel is really counter productive and, as you noticed, unsuccessful. As a homeopath, I've seen eczema treated with a hydrocortison prescription for the MD turn into lung symptoms such as asthma and chronic bronchitis. In my experience, it is better to be the good mom that you are and notice what the cause may be and eliminate that. Sometimes it is milk (even mother's milk), sometimes it is eggs; sometimes other foods. As your son's system develops and matures, these allergies may simply disappear. Until then, ask your doctor about other sources of protein. Also, check around on the web. There's a wealth of information out there about food allergies and alternatives.

Wishing you the best,
C. Springer
Certified Homeopath

When you are wanting to check for food allergies, it is a good idea to only try one new food at a time, wait 2 or 3 days to see if there is a reaction, then add a new food after that.

There are lots of milk alternatives these days, you can try lactose-free whole milk, soy milk (this may cause gas! try it sparingly at first), almond milk (my son LOVES this) for regular milk-type products. Your baby might do better with cultured dairy like yogurt, or kefir (a yogurt-type drink).

As far as eggs go, ask your dr. & maybe try them in baked goods first (like another response suggested), & wait a couple days to see what happens.

A good resource book is "Smart Medicine for a Healthier Child", you might want to check it out as it has info on allergies as well as all sorts of childhood stuff.

Hope this helps!

I would say to call his dr. ASAP because that sounds pretty serious.

Good luck

It definatly sounds like a milk allergy. I would stay away from milk products until your childs rash and symptoms comepletly disappear. Then try milk one more time. If he has the same reaction then you will know for sure. I wouldnt try any dairy except for the milk. My daughter has a pretty bad milk allergy. We had to switch to soy formula at only a couple months old. When she turned one we tried cows milk and had a reaction. I gave her the next step formula until she was about 15 months then switched to soy milk. I was happy to find out that you can buy soy cheese, soy pudding, soy yogurt, etc. And since she doesnt know what the real stuff tastes like she loves the soy. Good luck.

Have you tried just taking away the eggs? Egg allergies are very common. This is a big reason the peds recommend not giving kids eggs until the earliest of age 1. If you were giving your son regular formula (not soy or lactose free) I wouldn't suspect a milk allergy. Maybe try the milk again but no eggs to see what happens. Process of elimination.