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Apparently, milk protein intolerance is pretty common in infants. Two of my girlfriends' babies had trouble tolerating dairy as infants — and both women had two children with the same issue .
When formula-fed babies have this type of intolerance, they are often put on a soy-based or other dairy-free formula. When breastfed babies have this allergy, it means mama has to give up eating dairy while breastfeeding. Ugh.
More extreme dairy allergies in infants may reveal themselves as eczema, hives, asthma, gastrointestinal symptoms (like diarrhea and vomiting), or other symptoms. However, a milk protein intolerance is different. Commonly, babies with this condition are unable to digest casein or whey, two of the proteins in milk. Milk protein intolerance usually reveals itself through gastrointestinal issues, like bloating, diarrhea, reflux, and vomiting, often occurring right after feeding.
Because the symptoms of milk protein intolerance are subtle, sometimes it may take some time to diagnose. Once diagnosed, however, milk has to be eliminated (although usually temporarily, as children tend to outgrow this intolerance). So for breastfeeding moms, this means giving up dairy.
Radically changing your diet during the newborn and infant months is not easy. Once my husband went back to work after our son was born, let's just say the pizza delivery guy was practically on auto dial. Dairy is in everything, even bread sometimes. You have to read every label carefully.
It's one thing to change your diet by choice or in some planned method toward a vegan diet or whatnot. However, a new diet is very tricky to figure out with a newborn in your care every day and night. It's not impossible obviously, but many convenient food choices go right out the window.
Does your baby have milk protein intolerance or a milk allergy? Have you adapted to a dairy-free diet because of it? Tell us about your experience.
Comments (13)
Loving this article! I just have to add that EVERYONE technically has a milk allergy...milk isn't good for any of us. Not really an allergy so much as it causes those same symptoms for most people even if they are moderate or if people don't notice them or attribute them to dairy products.
My kids LOVE milk and lucky for me they arent allergic to it. In fact I give them to them at a early age and they LOVE it. but the info here is good there are a bunch of stuff I dint knew.
my baby does not have a dairy intolerance but i'm vegan already, and i'm planning on raising my son vegan as well...i believe that cow's milk is, well, made for cow's...and i think the fact that millions of people have bad reactions to drinking/eating it proves that...of course some people have reactions to all kids of foods but milk has the most, at least from my own personal experience
I've given up dairy with both my boys because of this issue. It's forced me to explore dairy alternatives that I'd never have tried otherwise like almond milk, rice milk, goat milk, sheep's yogurt, etc. I can't say I've liked it all, but it's a bit of an adventure. And there are definitely some delicious vegan baked treats like the banana chocolate chip muffin I found last week. Mmm.
Vegan desserts are like a whole other world of food. Seriously. I had never liked baking or tasted so many creative, delicious desserts until I went vegan..it's kind of crazy.
DS was dairy-intolerant from the get-go, so our whole family has adopted a dairy-free diet, and we are all loving it! (DH had lactose intolerance, and didn't even know it until he stopped eating all dairy products.) The new coconut milk ice cream, yogurts, milk beverages, kefir, and coffee creamer by So Delicious have been a godsend to us. We love the way they taste, and I feel good knowing that I'm feeding my family a nutritious alternative to dairy.
My youngest daughter is lactose intolerant and has been since birth. I had to supplement her with a lactose free formula so my breast milk, which if you didn't know contains lactose, was easier for her to tolerate. She is still lactose intolerant and the say will be for the rest of her life. We have had to buy lactose free milk and watch her intake of other dairy products such as cheese, eggs and yogurt, ect. She is not allowed to have any dairy out of our site because we never know how she is going to react to it or if and when she will vomit or have diarrea from it. It is very hard to gage how much is too much with her. sometimes she can tolerate small amounts of it and sometimes she can't but she can't drink regular milk ever because that reaction is the worst of all.
I'm sorry, but I have to ask this...if dairy makes your child sick, why on earth do you keep feeding it to them?
went off dairy for my first son. for my 2nd son I went off dairy, nuts, and broccoli. Now for my youngest, she has pretty severe eczema(atopic dermatitis). But you would never know it because of the diet change I have done. No dairy, gluten, egg, cane sugar. Took 8weeks to clear her skin after I started the diet. Here is a link to the journal I posted w/ before and after pics. http://www.cafemom.com/journals/read/1575018/How_I_healed_DD_s_eczema_w_diet_PICS
So yeah just going dairy free now sounds easy too me.
I too had to go off of dairy products when I was breastfeeding both of my kiddos. Not only that, but soy products as well. When first presented with this option or discontinuing nursing and going to a pre-digested formula I was a little overwhelmed by the LACK of information available. Then I found a great book called The Milk/Soy Protein (MSPI) Guidebook and Cookbook and it was a lifesaver!!! If you or a breastfeeding momma are currently facing a diet like this and don't want to go vegan (no offense intended here to anyone choosing a vegan lifestyle!!), please take a look at this book! I truly believe this is what saved my breastfeeding "career"... it has great guidelines and fantastic recipes that offer a lot of diversity!