Food Allergies

Re: Food Allergies

• macchiatto member

  December 2010

  We've dealt with a number of food allergies so I understand your concerns. At first we thought Will was allergic to quite a few of the solids we were introducing; he had what seemed to be reactions to many foods.

  We were able to narrow it down; he is allergic to wheat, corn, strawberries, possibly sesame, and he also tested positive for peanuts.

  Alex is allergic to eggs.

  I don't know which foods contain soy or dairy, but there are a number of rice-based foods (e.g. Light Brown Rice Loaf for bread, Rice Thins crackers, Rice Chex for cereal, etc.) that your LO can eat.

  With my boys, if I give them a snack cup to carry around, I make sure the contents are safe for both boys (e.g. no Cheerios for Alex!). It's too hard to ensure that Will doesn't grab a bite of Alex's food. If they're eating in their highchairs or at the table, you can position them so they can't reach each other's food. If I give Alex a food that Will can't have, I make sure Will has a similar-looking alternative so he doesn't know the difference. Sometimes I just give them both the allergy-friendly version (e.g. I would give them both rice pasta). With nuts, we're not giving them to Alex until he's at least 3 so we can avoid cross-contamination more easily.
  

  Will has now partially outgrown his wheat allergy, which really helps (though corn is surprisingly hard to avoid too; that's my biggest challenge right now!).
  Google allergy blogs and forums for more information specific to the allergies you're dealing with. Good luck; I know it's not easy!
  

  fraternal twin boys born january 2009

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• AlishaMay

  December 2010

  Thanks for the tips Macchiato!  Did you guys do any allergy testing?  If so, how old were they?
  

  bfp 5/17/09 - missed m/c 6/17/09 @ 9w - stopped growing 6w 1d, D&C 6/19/09
  BFP #2 10/13/2009 on our 2nd Wedding Anniversary
  Discovered TWINS during the 6w u/s - what a shocker!
  Delivered on 5/19/2010 at 34 weeks due to pre-e and HELLP syndrome
  
  The Bump MoM Recipe Collection

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• macchiatto member

  December 2010

  Yep! Our pedi referred Will to the allergist at 10m because he seemed to be reacting to so many things. It was confusing. The allergist did skin testing ... and he tested negative for everything! So we thought, 'Hmm, maybe the reactions were all coincidence" and started reintroducing wheat, corn, etc. However, he definitely reacted to wheat, corn and strawberries no matter what the tests said!
  

  Then when the boys were 15m, they both had allergy testing done as part of a BFing and Child Health study we participated in. Will tested positive for eggs and peanuts on the skin test, and Alex tested positive for eggs. The allergist followed up with a blood test for Will, on which he tested positive for peanuts and negative for eggs. So we got an epipen prescription and we avoid all nuts. The allergist told us to follow up with a food challenge for Alex for the egg allergy (since a positive skin test means a 50% chance of actually having the allergy) so we did and confirmed that he is allergic. Fortunately he can handle them in baked goods, just not straight cooked eggs.
  

  fraternal twin boys born january 2009

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• shellshavintwins

  December 2010

  I am too going through this here is our story... Right from the start immediatley after BFing both my girls would scream and pass wind. I switched to similac after 3 weeks, things got worse. Tried gentle formula it got a tiny bit better, but not much. We then went to Isomil and Generic Soy (suspected lactose intolerance)and the girls were still quite miserable and very constipated. The doctor diagnosed reflux based on Lilly spitting up all the time & Ellie arching backward screaming. We then switched to Goodstart Soy whose Soy protein is hydrolyzed (broken down) for the babies. We saw a huge improvement except that Ellie's always been a screaming high needs baby, and continued to seem like she is always in pain. From 10-12 months Lilly started randomly vomitting when given non baby food items, like Cookies from the store bakery. At 11 mos at peds orders we started switching to lactose free milk. At 11 1/2 mos Lilly tried scrambled eggs and she started projectile vomitting. So Ped diagnosed Egg protein allergy. After getting rid of eggs she still vomitted occasionally and Ellie developed red rash on her hiney hole. Ped diagnosed Milk protein allergy. We put them on Soy milk, and they started screaming and farting all night long....so they are and were allergic all along. I feed the girls rice/coconut milk blend (enriched with calcium and vits) and Lots of fresh,  frozen, and canned fruits & veggies. They also eat vegan Pasta ( no egg or milk used in processing) and lots of meat. My poor Ellie is behaving much better, and she really was in pain that whole time on the soy formula. PM if you'd like to talk.

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• luvmagoldn

  December 2010

  My situation is a bit different as #3 has food allergies.  He was getting hives almost from the get-go and was put on a hypoallergenic formula to supplement while breast feeding.

  When we started introducing solids he starting hiving again and I couldn't figure out why.  That's when we had him tested (seven months) a found out he's allergic to milk, eggs and peanuts.  He tested positive for soy too but hasn't reacted to it so he's been on soy milk since he turned one.

  At that age they don't do the skin test.  They do a blood test instead called a RAST.  He needs to have the test repeated at two to see if his numbers have gone up or down.

  Soy is really difficult to avoid because it's in EVERYTHING.  If you haven't already, I would check out the FAAN website.  It has a ton of great information on it.  

  I remember that at first it seemed like there was nothing I could feed him!  But you learn as you go and find new things all the time.  We also saw a nutritionist at about a year (I think) and she gave us some more ideas for foods he could eat that would add healthy fats to his diet.  You might find that helpful too.

  As far as keeping the allergic child from eating the other children's food I think you will find that easy to control while they are still in high chairs or boosters. If you feed all meals and snacks in the chairs there is no opportunity for sharing.  For "milk" you might start using different cups for each child.  My LO and his brothers know which cup is his.  He is also is good about asking for a bite or looking at me first to ask if it's ok to eat something.  And the older boys will ask me if the LO can have something before they share with him.  I still have to stay on top of things though without restricting the older boys too much.  It's difficult at times but usually pretty manageable.

  Good luck to you.  I know it can be daunting at first.  But I would definitely get to a pediatric allergist.  They will be able to point you in the right direction and give you some resources in your area. 

  

  My twins are 5! My baby is 3!

  DS#2 - Allergic to Cashew, Pistachio, Kiwi

  DS#3 - Allergic to Milk, Egg, Peanut, Tree Nuts and Sesame

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