Rash with Similac Advance

GotMilk9

I'm in the process of switching DS over to formula for the feeds he'll be at daycare, which will likely only be 2 feeds. Today we eliminated the morning feed and he did great! Took the bottle with formula with no problems and sucked back the 6oz. He didn't have any spitting up or gas issues so I thought we were in the clear, but when he woke up from his afternoon nap he had a rash all over, in particular his knees were bright red, hot and had little bumps on them. His arms, legs and torso also have the bumps, but aren't red like his knees. I didn't do anything differently today besides the formula so that's my best guess as to what it is.

Anybody else use Similac Advance (with Age Shield, if that matters) and have any adverse reactions like this?? Should I be doing anything for it?

Oh, and to boot, tomorrow is DS's first trial day at daycare, and I'd hate to send him there with a rash! (debating on just sending 2 BM bottles instead of one of each like we did today) 

teachermom226

Was it warm where he was napping?  It's possible that it could just be a heat rash.

pinkshades05

That could be possible. Nat has a rash from an allergic reaction and that sounds similar. I would definitely stop giving that formula and see if it clears up in a day or two. If it gets worse, then take him to the pediatrician.

GotMilk9

teachermom226:

Was it warm where he was napping?  It's possible that it could just be a heat rash.

Nope, he was on our bed (not rolling yet, dont worry) in the A/C. And he was basically inside all day except for a little bit when I took him to the swing in the yard, but it was in the shade.

We also live in Bermuda which is pretty much constantly hot and he's never had heat rash so I wouldn't think today would be any different. 

GotMilk9

pinkshades05:

That could be possible. Nat has a rash from an allergic reaction and that sounds similar. I would definitely stop giving that formula and see if it clears up in a day or two. If it gets worse, then take him to the pediatrician.

How long do you think I need to wait for it to clear up? I was thinking of waiting till the morning, and if it hadn't cleared up I was going to take him to the Dr, especially since the formula I gave him was today at 11am so it'd be almost 24 hours. I dont think I'd feel right sending him to daycare with a rash that I didn't know the cause.

 

teachermom226

GotMilk9:

teachermom226:

Was it warm where he was napping?  It's possible that it could just be a heat rash.

Nope, he was on our bed (not rolling yet, dont worry) in the A/C. And he was basically inside all day except for a little bit when I took him to the swing in the yard, but it was in the shade.

We also live in Bermuda which is pretty much constantly hot and he's never had heat rash so I wouldn't think today would be any different. 

I would definitely stop giving the formula and call the doctor and ask for his/her advice.  That doesn't sound right!  I hope it clears up soon.

HappyToBe2012

It is very possible for the rash to be a reaction to the formula.  DD got her one and only diaper rash the week she was on Similac Advance (we normally feed her Enfamil Infant).  We had run out of her normal and I had a sample can of the Similac.  She quickly developed a bad diaper rash.  We went back to her normal formula and she has not had another diaper rash since.  (Like you, nothing had changed when she got the rash other than the formula.)

You may want to try a different brand if you can.  Something in the Similac may not be agreeing with your LO.

GotMilk9

Yeah, the more I think about it, the more it has to be the formula, so i'll be sending 2 BM bottles to daycare, if he ends up going. It's just weird though, cause I would have thought that if it didn't agree with him though he would have had a digestive reaction, not a skin reaction. Oh well, I guess that can is going in the garbage. On to the next one....

pinkshades05

GotMilk9:

pinkshades05:

That could be possible. Nat has a rash from an allergic reaction and that sounds similar. I would definitely stop giving that formula and see if it clears up in a day or two. If it gets worse, then take him to the pediatrician.

How long do you think I need to wait for it to clear up? I was thinking of waiting till the morning, and if it hadn't cleared up I was going to take him to the Dr, especially since the formula I gave him was today at 11am so it'd be almost 24 hours. I dont think I'd feel right sending him to daycare with a rash that I didn't know the cause.

I really don't know how long to wait. If it gets worse, definitely take him in to see your pediatrician. Our pedi said it could take up to 3 weeks to clear if its an allergic reaction. We use a prescription cream on Nat--does anyone know if benedryl would work in this case?

busterbeagle

My DD had an acute allergic reaction the one time she had Similac Advanced.  Within an hour of drinking it, she started getting red and splotchy everywhere and her eyes looked swollen.  We took her to the ER and they gave her Benedryl.  Her pedi suggested Nutramigen if we needed to supplement BFing and a plan to do allergy testing if she had another reaction to a food.  She also said a milk allergy was unlikely because she had no digestive symptoms.  She did fine with the Nutramigen (2 bottles a week while I'm at work) but hated the taste, so we tried Similac Sensitive and it has been working great for us.  I wouldn't worry too much (I way overreacted) but would call the pedi.

GotMilk9

busterbeagle:

My DD had an acute allergic reaction the one time she had Similac Advanced.  Within an hour of drinking it, she started getting red and splotchy everywhere and her eyes looked swollen.  We took her to the ER and they gave her Benedryl.  Her pedi suggested Nutramigen if we needed to supplement BFing and a plan to do allergy testing if she had another reaction to a food.  She also said a milk allergy was unlikely because she had no digestive symptoms.  She did fine with the Nutramigen (2 bottles a week while I'm at work) but hated the taste, so we tried Similac Sensitive and it has been working great for us.  I wouldn't worry too much (I way overreacted) but would call the pedi.

 That's exactly what it is - red and splotchy! So it's not a milk allergy? Then what did your pedi say it was? Maybe i'll try the Sensitive version then, see if that works. Someone i spoke to recommended the Soy version also. I might just call my pedi in the AM to see what he suggests. 

busterbeagle

GotMilk9:

 That's exactly what it is - red and splotchy! So it's not a milk allergy? Then what did your pedi say it was? Maybe i'll try the Sensitive version then, see if that works. Someone i spoke to recommended the Soy version also. I might just call my pedi in the AM to see what he suggests. 

She wasn't sure since there are so many ingredients in the formula.  But if you google something like "Similac Advanced allergic reaction" you will get a ton of the same kind of stories.