Dairy Intolerance in Infant

sabby2 · December 2014

Alright, I'm just wanting experiences of other mom's who have had to cut out dairy because of intolerance in your LO. DD is ebf.

What symptoms did you notice? I plan on talking to the pediatrician about this at our 2 month appointment this week because it could be totally normal.

I've noticed that Dd is more spitty (almost every feeding lately and some in between). She is a happy spitter but it's happening more than it used to. She's more gassy and I've been hearing lots of stomach gurgles.She's been having green mucousy stools that smell kind of sour/like vinegar. Her stools did not previously look or smell like this.

I have a dairy intolerance myself but it's not so bad that I usually avoid dairy. Just wondering if she might have it too.

Emerald27 · December 2014

Oftentimes babies with dairy sensitivities will have reflux, painful gas, and frothy or even bloody stools. They're also generally fussy babies.

It could be that your LO has a mild sensitivity, so cutting out dairy might be worth a try. Oftentimes mothers see improvement within 48 hours, but sometimes it takes a week or two.

Happily spitting up and green stools sound more like normal oversupply than diet sensitivity, but mothers' instincts are significant. If you feel like something isn't right, follow your instinct and talk to the pedi. Good luck!

ETA: Has she been given anything other than breastmilk? That could be responsible for the funky smell.

sabby2 · December 2014

Nothing other than breast milk. Gripe water but she hasn't had that for over a week. I've had tons of dairy the past few days and it's stuff that normally bothers me and yesterday is when I started noticing the different smelling bm.

sabby2 · December 2014

If it makes a difference, she's had green stools before but they were never this slimy.

Emerald27 · December 2014

PurpleHippo19 said:
@mrscjmb9410 Your DS sounds just like my DD2. Do you remember when he "outgrew" it? I've been off dairy for 2 weeks, and while it's SO beyond worth it for my baby, I definitely miss dairy and look forward to having it again.

The average range for outgrowing dairy sensitivity is pretty big. It's usually between 6 and 18 months, but every child is different. FX that Phoenix outgrows her sensitivity asap!

Emerald27 · December 2014

@PurpleHippo19‌ Are you completely dairy free, or can you eat things like butter and cheese? Some babies only have trouble when mom drinks milk or eats ice cream, and they do ok with yogurt, cheese, or butter.

TheFutureMrs.O · December 2014

I've been dairy free for 6 weeks now. She was diagnosed with reflux and they said something like 40% of babies will have a dairy intolerance as well so I quit it all. It hasn't been too bad and I do notice a difference in her gas, fussiness and poos - she would struggle with them.

courtney8806 · December 2014

I stopped eating dairy for about a week because I thought it was making DD gassy. I slowly added it back in...and, at first, I thought we were okay. However, since the re-introduction she's been spitting up a TON and has been getting a rash that comes and goes where the spit up hits her chest. I don't know for sure that it has to do with the dairy, but I'm going to cut it out again to see if it helps. :-/

hippohat · December 2014

I've been dairy free for about 6 weeks - at two weeks he was suddenly extremely unhappy and cutting out dairy made a huge difference very quickly. I was able to eat a little of things with milk or butter baked in, but after eating stuff baked with a fair amount of butter yesterday (I made it so I know what was in it) he was miserable last night. :-(

He gets reflux-y, acts like his stomach hurts, and has green vinegary bm that he wants off his bum immediately.

I had also been eating a ton of salad and veggies, our pedi suggested cutting raw veg too and that stopped the crazy gas right away. Also suggested were chocolate and caffeine. Sad face. But, after a few weeks of cutting everything he was clearly feeling so much better.

I live on almond milk (diamond brand!), peanut butter, decaf coffee that I pretend has caffeine, and dairy free chocolate. It was initially hard, but it's most frustrating to cook for my 3yo and be within my restrictions.

Sorry, this turned into a whine from me! Fingers crossed that all the babies outgrow this ASAP, momma misses cheese!

sabby2 · December 2014

Thanks for your advice lady's. The pediatrician thinks dd just has a little cold virus. So, I guess it's good news.

You lady's are awesome in your dedication to your kiddos by changing your diet. I know it can't be easy because dairy is in everything.

LisaHatfieldBaran · December 2014

I totally feel you! My lo has a milk allergy. He is breast fed but we found out when we tried to introduce formula to supplement since I'll go back to work next month and just in case there is a day when I don't have enough stored there is an option. My lo broke out with a rash all over his face and down to his neck. The supplemental formula caused excessive gas, the gentlease caused the rash and mucous in his diapers. One looked like someone blew their nose in it. He also got a rash the one day I had cereal. He even broke out with the hypoallergenic formula. Try to cut out all traces if dairy for at least a week and see how they do, but sounds like an intolerance to me.

slsl509 · December 2014

This is a very timely thread for me. In my googling, it sounds like a milk protein allergy is supposed to be super uncommon in breastfed babies but then I come here and there are lots of people struggling. I haven't done an elimination diet yet to see. DS is spitty and has had a handful of projectile vomits including out of his nose, has a rash I thought was baby acne on his face, ears, scalp, arms and chest and green poop. He also seems to strain to toot and poop a lot.

Of course all of these problems could be related to oversupply/foremilk, normal baby acne, normal baby farts and new mom paranoia. I'll be the selfish notch who doesn't want to give up dairy. I would absolutely if I knew that would fix it but I dread a trial.

Just when I thought he was too fussy, he started sleeping like a boss, napping and being smiley. Who knows? It's all just a guessing game and so stressful.

slsl509 · December 2014

Also - DD could not drink cow's milk until she was about 2. From 1-2 we have her soy and BM. She could handle milk products but no milk. So weird. I don't have any issues I know of.

It seems like it would be really easy to eff up an elimination diet with a hidden source and then be questioning the results.

Jennyc00 · December 2014

LisaHatfieldBaran said:
I totally feel you! My lo has a milk allergy. He is breast fed but we found out when we tried to introduce formula to supplement since I'll go back to work next month and just in case there is a day when I don't have enough stored there is an option. My lo broke out with a rash all over his face and down to his neck. The supplemental formula caused excessive gas, the gentlease caused the rash and mucous in his diapers. One looked like someone blew their nose in it. He also got a rash the one day I had cereal. He even broke out with the hypoallergenic formula. Try to cut out all traces if dairy for at least a week and see how they do, but sounds like an intolerance to me.

What kind of formula was the hypoallergenic?? I switched to nutramigen. Now he's barely gotten more than a few half and half supplement bottles per week since he started the rash weeks ago. His doc said bacterial infection and quickly blew off allergies.

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