Cow's milk causing diaper rash and diarrhea?

lilbit923 · December 2010

We've been working slowly on the transition from formula to cow's milk (2%) for over a month now. Emma loves it and hasn't thrown anything up.

Over the past week we've noticed a change in her stools. They are often times (not always) watery and she came home last week with the worst diaper rash EVER. I thought it was from the daycare not changing Emma as much since her teacher tells me "Oh yeah, I just changed her 30 minutes ago." lately when I pick her up.

Last week I brought Emma home and this rash covered her laby bits and butt. The skin was red, swollen, raised and Emma screamed when I had to clean her. She's never done that to me. However, she's had some 'blow outs' in her outfits at school before but she's never been crying hysterically to the point she won't let me clean her.

I use Boudreaux's Butt paste and baby powder after I clean her up in diaper changes. We have not noticed her turning away the 2% milk. She's not thrown any of it up so DH and I thought till recently, she's been ok with the transition.

Now we're not so sure. The diarrhea is not getting better even though we've got her rash nearly healed. She will eat yogurt, cheese sticks, mac n cheese, etc. Her table food choices haven't changed. She still eats what she ate before and she still has the same liquid intake. The diarrhea is concerning to us.

Have your babies had reactions to cow's milk like these with a diaper rash or diarrhea? Did you just revert back to formula and remove milk from the diet?

AdamsWife08 · December 2010

AshPal61:

Poor Emma. I would revert back to just formula and see if there's a change. I thought the babies were supposed to get whole milk, too, because they need the fat? Not that it would necessarily have anything to do with your situation.

Also, I have a rash cream rec....There's Maximum Strength Desitin that works wonders....it really does. It's all I use now. I compared the labels and it has way more Zinc Oxide (the active ingredient) than all of the other rash creams. It stays on well too. It's in a purple container/box.

Good luck...I hope Emma's little tush heals quickly.

I love this stuff! Burke's bottom was a little red last night before bed so I used some on him and this morning we were back to normal. I highly recommend.

milkyway · December 2010

G has had loose to very watery stools since we started introducing whole milk a few weeks ago. I don't give him very much each day because if it, hoping that a very gradual increase will give his body time to adjust to the different enzymes or whatever is causing this reaction. We have his one year check-up on Monday, so I plan to ask the Pedi about it then as well.

G still eats cheese and every other dairy food he has, and those have never been an issue for him. I'm hoping his body gets used to whole milk soon, for the sake of his poor bottom!

qtjess1110 · December 2010

I have been adding whole milk to my DS's bottle for about a week. Last week he got the worst diaper rash ever it was bleeding it was horrible and red. The destin in the purple box is the only thing that helped it. Now I am trying to figure out if it was the milk. He didnt have diarrhea.

wendic22 · December 2010

Sounds like the milk. But the only thing to do it revert back to formula with no milk and see if it gets better. It will take 3ish days to see it get better! Good luck!

arte79 · December 2010

I personally don't think it's the milk. Why not check with the Pedi?

jnjstarr · March 2014

I found that it was the milk causing my little guys rashes. I went from 20-24 ounces of milk to 16 ounces or less a day and usually do half milk half water. His rash has cleared up. I think his body just can't handle the new protein in the milk so introduce it slowly and back off the milk until his rash goes away, then slowly reintroduce it. I've also heard that goats milk has smaller protein in it so it's easier for them to digest. haven't tried that yet but I've been able to control is diaper rash by not giving him as much milk. He does fine with other dairy products like yogurt and cheese, but it's just a "new food" and his body needs to get used to it. If it never does then try giving him some kind of other milk. Hope that helps!