Does your baby have a milk allergy?
I am having a problem finding a formula for my eight-week-old son. He started out on breast milk. We then mixed breast milk with Lactofree until he was solely on Lactofree at five weeks. Our pediatrician had us switch to Enfamil with Iron at six weeks, and this made him fussy and constipated on the Lactofree, with very frequent bowel movements. Could this indicate a possible milk allergy?
Question:Sue Gilbert
Sue Gilbert works as a consulting nutritionist. For many years she worked with Earth's Best Organic Baby Food, integrating nutrition and... Read more
The gastrointestinal problems your son had while on the Enfamil may indicate a milk allergy. Gastrointestinal symptoms of milk allergy include cramps, vomiting and/or diarrhea. Up to 50 percent of infants with cow's milk allergy are also sensitive to soy protein, so it may be possible that the Prosobee also caused an allergic reaction, resulting in the vomiting. Adverse reaction times to new formulas are usually within 24 hours.
One way to test your suspicions that your son may be suffering from an allergic reaction is to give your son a protein hydrolysate formula such as Nutramigen or Pregestimil. These formulas are similar to soy- or milk-based formulas except that the protein has been heat treated and enzymatically hydrolyzed, which renders them unable to elicit an immunologic response. Most protein hydrolysate formulas are also lactose-free. Unfortunately they are very poor-tasting and expensive. If your son will accept the formula, then if his symptoms disappear, you have some clue that he may have been reacting to cow's milk and soy protein in the instances with the other formulas. In any case, you should take this information to your pediatrician to confirm or deny your diagnosis.
If you find that while on the Enfamil his bowel habits are variable, but not in the realm of diarrhea, or are not accompanied by gas and cramps, then perhaps he is just experiencing, for him, normal variations.
Good luck in finding the answer.
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