Having a child with a milk allergy is very hard. For parents that don’t have children with allergies, this can be very difficult to understand. Some people may think that allergies are easy to control… Just say no to dairy, right? With so many foods made with dairy products, it’s harder than they would think. It takes a great amount of energy to watch everything your child drinks and eats. It’s no wonder a common question we hear from parents is “Will my child outgrow this? And when?”

According to Hugh A. Sampson, M.D., “Virtually all infants who develop cow’s milk allergy do so in the first year of life, with about 80% ‘outgrowing’ their milk allergy by their fifth birthday.”
(Click here for more on this article by Dr. Sampson in FAAN’s “Food Allergy News”)

Between 2% and 3% of babies and toddlers are affected by a milk allergy and it occurs when infants are given a cow’s milk-based formula or are exposed to milk proteins in the mother’s diet (if breastfeeding). The best preventative program is for your child to stay away from milk and milk-based products entirely. If breastfeeding, take all dairy out of your diet or switch from standard formula to an amino acid based formula like Neocate.

Until your child grows out of it, help him/her avoid adverse reactions by knowing what – and what not – to feed him/her and, as always, look out for the common symptoms.
· Irritability
· Diarrhea
· Vomiting
· Skin rashes (like eczema)
· Wheezing and coughing
· Blood in stools

Dealing with a milk allergy throughout life is not the norm, but it can happen, and, of course, it can be managed, especially since more and more dairy-free/allergen-free products and recipes are coming on the scene. If you have any good recipes, send them our way so we can share with others.

Take care,
Marybeth

Hi There!
One of the things that Marybeth and I hear so often from parents is that it took so long to get their child to get properly diagnosed. In the interim, their baby suffered and it was very difficult on the entire family. They wished they knew and understood more about milk protein allergy and other food allergies so they would not have had to go through this.

Well, the good news is that the Dr. Phil show is giving parents like you a chance to educate other families by sharing your story. Dr. Phil is planning a show on severe allergies and is looking for guests.
If you’re interested, click here .

I think this would be a great opportunity for parents like you to share your experience with families nationwide, raising awareness of food allergies and other allergy-related GI conditions – hopefully encouraging a quicker and more accurate diagnosis.

If you get the opportunity to participate in the show, please email Steven, Marybeth and myself at babyhealthblog@ecius.net to let us know. We’ll all be sure to tune-in!

Take care,
April

Valentine’s Day is here and I’m not sure what has me more off-center: deliberating about what to buy my wife or realizing that my kids are moving beyond Snoopy cards and conversation candy hearts at what seems like lightening speed. Just when did their Valentine’s go from hugs and kisses from Mommy and Daddy to carnations and mixed CDs from gangly pre-teens at my front door?

But I’m hesitant to long for the simplicity of little candies because, for parents of kids with food allergies, Valentine’s chocolates and other treats (at any age) can spell serious danger.

Fortunately, there are many resources out there to help your kids have a happy Valentine’s day free of any allergic reactions. Below are a few worth checking out. You’ll notice some key themes throughout these resources that ring true for facing so many holidays and activities when your child has a food allergy. These are communication (with your kids, their teachers and other parents), planning, involvement (in your child’s classroom or activity), and creativity (for alternative foods, activities etc.).

Guide to celebrating Valentine’s Day
From Kids with Food Allergies

ABC’s for a Safe Valentine’s Party
From Allergy Moms

Valentine’s Gift Guide
From Beyond Allergy

Recipes for Safe Valentine’s Treats
From Kids with Food Allergies

Happy Valentine’s!
Dr. Y

Many parents come to April and I with questions about when and how to introduce new foods to their child once he or she is symptom free and growing strong.

Of course, this is something you should talk about with your child’s doctor or dietitian. After all, every child – and every child’s allergy – is different. But we’ve also put together a transition guide that we think you’ll find helpful. Here are a few highlights; however, if you would like the full guide, which includes more information and helpful recipes, just email me at babyhealthblog@ecius.net and I’ll mail you a copy.

· Only introduce new foods when your child is well.
· Introduce foods one at a time so that, if your child does have a reaction, it is easy to identify the culprit.
· Start with foods that are least likely to cause an allergic reaction.
· Leave 1-2 weeks between the introduction of a new food.
· Give small amounts of foods first. Start with a “pea size” amount and gradually increase over several days if there are no symptoms.
· If symptoms occur, stop the food being tested and discuss with your child’s doctor or dietitian.
· Continue to give your child foods that have already been introduced and tolerated.
· Again, always follow the advice of your healthcare professional.

Take care,

Marybeth