Dairy sensitivity?

kimeetee

DD has had a slight rash/dry reddish skin around her mouth for the past couple of weeks.  We've attributed this to the increased dryness in the air (colder weather means turning the heat on) and all the drool from her mouth.  We introduced WCM to her last week.  I think she may have only gotten an ounce or two at a time.  I think she got a few ounces today (teacher said she wasn't too interested in it). 

 When we picked her up today, the skin around her face was noticeably more red.  Could this be from WCM?  She eats yogurt every day.  Also eats cheese, but not as often. She was bf for pretty much her entire first year.  I never avoided dairy, but don't know that I really ingest all that much (we drink almond milk, and I definitely enjoy my cheese, but don't eat it all the time).

 She has her 12 month wellness check on Friday, so I'm also going to talk to the Dr. , but wondering if  has experience with this. 

RedCamaro

As a mom to a LO who has had a dairy intolerance since birth, I have never been told that what you are seeing is a side effect. It just sounds like she's got chapped skin. If she happens to have a paci in her mouth, that might produce enough wetness around her mouth to make it irritated, plus the exposure to the cold weather.

You said this has been going on for 2 weeks, but you just introduced WCM one week ago (and she hasn't had a lot). I would look elsewhere for the irritant. If there's a sensitivity to WCM, you will notice it in the diaper mostly. Try applying some Aquaphor to the area.

Allibob

My daughter has a dairy allergy, and gets eczema-like rashes when she's exposed to it - red, scaly patches around her mouth, on her forehead, arms, etc. It's definitely possible, because yogurt & cheese are easier to tolerate than straight milk. Try giving her almond milk instead for a week and see if it clears up. Hopefully your doctor can help you figure it out.

LittleMommaBlueHen

My friend's son has the same thing.  He can tolerate all other dairy, but when he drinks WCM he gets a rash on his mouth.  Apparently her husband was the same way as a child.  I would just stop the WCM until you talk to the Dr.

kimeetee

I put Aquaphor on her cheeks last night and the redness was gone this morning.  The dryness is still there though.  She is getting WCM again today (two 4 oz bottles), so i will see how she is later.  But I'll probably do soy/almond milk tomorrow.  Her dr.'s appt is on Friday, so i'll talk to him then.

 Thanks, ladies!

Vieve831

DS was just fine with cheese and milk products but when I transitioned from BM to WCM he had a reaction - eczema, constipation, and extreme fussiness. When he was a newborn I did cut dairy out of my diet due to him having colic and that helped him. At 6 months I reintroduced dairy so I thought he would be fine. For now, on the pedi's advice we switched to soy milk and cut out all dairy. We are going to reintroduce milk products after a week or so and possibly try 2% milk again if that goes well.

kimeetee

Talked to the Dr. last Friday and he said that since the only reaction was on her face, he thinks it may be an atopic sensitivity only.  He asked about blood in her stool and I said that there was not any.  He suggested trying to give her a few spoonfuls a day and see how she reacts to it.  We are on day 2 of the spoonfuls and there hasn't been any apparent reaction (including the rash on the face).  When he saw her cheeks, he said it really looked like winter skin redness and dryness. 

 Sidenote:  he indicated we should do soy first, and then almond milk if soy didn't work out.   For some reason, I didn't ask why soy was preferable.  

 Last, he said I could give DD 2% if the dairy was working out and when I asked why 2% versus full fat, he said that the Academy of Pediatrics actually has suggested this due to the obesity epidemic.  

 Considering that DD is in the 47% for weight and  high 70s for height, I will probably give her WCM in the beginning and then reevaluate later.  Of course this is after seeing how the WCM goes.