Dairy Allergy In Your Baby
There are three main kinds of dairy intolerance in babies. First of all there is the full blown allergy to milk which is quite easy to recognize. Secondly we have a lactose intolerance and thirdly, a milk protein intolerance. Working out which type of dairy allergy or intolerance your child has can be extremely tricky.
Lactose Intolerance (Common)
When your newborn cannot process lactose, which is the sugar in cows milk, milk products (from any animal) and breast milk this is called a lactose intolerance in babies. The symptoms include, vomiting up whole feeds within a short time after feeding, green poo, intense stomach pain and not putting on weight. This will usually be idenitfied quickly by your doctor because any infant not putting on weight will be a worry. Most babies grow out this intolerance within a few months, as the body starts producing more lactase.
Real Allergy to Cows Milk (Rare)
A second type of allergy, in fact a true allergy to cow’s milk, is caused when the newborns body treats the substance as harmful which is what occurs in other allergies such as a peanut allergy. When a full blown allergy is present, the symptoms are unmistakable and include vomiting, hives, anaphylaxis and swelling of the lips, mouth and throat. With severe reactions, call emergency services without delay.
The types of intolerance or allergy described above tend to have immediate reactions. The milk is taken and within a very short time the baby rejects it by vomiting.
Milk Protein Intolerance (Common)
What’s more difficult to determine is a dairy or milk protein intolerance in babies. Milk protein intolerances are usually subject to a delayed response of up to 4 days, so they can be extremely hard to identify. Also, your newborn will most likely be gaining weight normally. The most common symptoms of a dairy problem include: reflux, being very unsettled, extreme wind, crying in pain, pulling knees up to chest, colic, eczema, difficulty sleeping, constipation and diarrhea.
If your infant constantly shows signs of these symptoms it is definitely worth talking to your doctor, midwife or health visitor about trying a dairy free diet for a few weeks or, if you are breast feeding, simply cutting out dairy products from your diet for 2 weeks. It often takes up to a week before you notice any difference in your child, as it can take a while for all the dairy to be removed by the body.
The majority of infants out grow a milk allergy or intolerance after about 2 years old. Even for children that have a long term problem with cow’s milk there are many safe alternatives that you can try such as soya or goat’s milk that will provide them with all the sustenance they need and help them to grow up to be healthy and strong.






