Should I stop weaning?

[natashacs]

Hi, I've put up various messages about my LO's eczema and Neocate, which we've been on for the last 2 weeks. The eczema has been slowly improving (although not as fast as I'd like but never mind). Anyway, this morning there is a patch of eczema on his face that has flared up again, which surely shoudln't be happening.

I'd started weaning early because my GP wouldn't help with hypoallergenic milk, LO was taking 35 - 40oz and I wanted to get the milk down (this was before Neocate). I've carried on with the weaning since Neocate as LO loves it. But I'm now wondering whether there are other triggers too, ie he's had quite a lot of apple in the past few days.

I can't really believe he's allergic to apples (mainly because I really don't want him to be allergic to everything but maybe I should be preparing myself for that). Should I cut out all food for the next two weeks and then start slowly reintroducing? He's still young enough to survive on milk alone. Or does eczema that is on the mend flare up like that - is that how it behaves?

It would be kind of annoying to stop weaning as we'd gone through most of the basics foods/first tastes, as we'd got through that phase and he's enjoying things like sweet potoate and carrot for lunch. But obv have to do what is best for him. What does everyone reckon?

[mummymoo]

hi, my little one had eczema when she was a baby, but it wasnt that bad and i didnt need to do anything. i personaly wouldnt stop weaning now you have started.
but i have been told these things can make it flare up
milk
bread/wheat
dairy products such ad fromage frais and cheese
strawberries
marmite
also what washing powder do you use? as even sdome of the no bios can make the rash flare up.
have you try aqueous cream? this is what i used, you can aslo use it to wash them!
i hope some of this might help you. take care

[Spectra]

Acidic fruits can cause eczema.  This does not mean he has an allergy per say, it may be a slight intolerance for now.  I know my son would flare up if he ate a full cup of pureed pear.  My dad will get eczema if he eats a ton of oranges.  Fruits that are acidic are:::

    *  apples
    * berries
    * blackberries
    * blueberries
    * cranberries
    * peaches
    * pears
    * raspberries
    * strawberries
    * oranges
    * lemons
    * tomatoes


The list for less acidic fruits and veggies are::
    *  figs,
    * Asian pears,
    * melons,
    * bananas,
    * dates,
    * papaya,
    * persimmons

Almost ALL vegetables, such as:

    * asparagus
    * beans
    * corn
    * cucumbers
    * garlic
    * green beans
    * greens (lettuce, kale, collards, spinach, etc.)
    * onions
    * peas
    * pumpkins
    * squash (summer or winter varieties)


I know a lot of the fruit listed are not at the same level of acidity so you may just need to try out a few different ones. Have you tried pear?  I know it is acidic too, but it is less acidic than apples.  Asian pears, or Japanese Pears, are really low in acid.  They are the pears that have a brown skin instead of green.  Perhaps you can try making your own puree?  Or perhaps try regular pear puree first to see how he reacts?  My son grew out of this.  At 12 months it was causing him eczema, and now he can have pear and apple fine.  I think they have such sensitive skin that even the acid from the fruit, inside them, can cause a reaction.

[natashacs]

oh my god its all too much to take in!!!! I am making my own purees but the pears at the supermarket looked a bit dodge so I just got apple - and he has been having quite alot of it! Will get some pears. Thanks for the list. I really need to get myself a bit more clued up on all of this. can anyone recommend a good book to read!? (that summarises the entire thing in a few pages?)!!!

[Spectra]

Hehe, I know.  I was in the same position as you 6 months ago.  I couldn't understand why all of a sudden his eczema was flaring up when he ate a bunch of fruit.  I feared, like you, that he was now all of a sudden intolerant/allergic to all this fruit!!  Thankfully my allergist assured me it is quite common and they will most likely grow out of it.  In the meantime I was to just give him small amounts of the fruit, and avoid the citrus fruit.  So, that's what I did and now he's able to handle the apple and pear fine. 

I don't know of any book, unfortunately.  I would have loved a guide on eczema at the time I was dealing with it!  I should have asked my allergist if he knew of one at the time. 

[mommyoflogan]

I'm the one who started the post "Allergic to apples and pears" a few weeks ago.  I'm dealing with the same thing you are, trying to figure out what foods area "safe", which ones my lo can only have a little bit of, and which ones to stay away from completely.  This board has been great in answering my questions.  I would recommend posting questions here to see if anyone else has the same problem.  These moms are pretty good at summarizing the entire thing in just a few pages!   For your lo's eczema, you might try some prescription strength hydrocortizone.  I  put this on any flare up spots and then I use Aveeno Baby lotion for eczema on the rest of his body.  It works really well for us.  Good luck and know that you are not alone and there are lots of moms here to help!

[KittysMum]

It's a minefield Natasha, isn't it? And the trouble is, we all have different experiences, so no one answer is going to be just right for you. Kitty's fine with pears, but seems to have problems with all sorts of other things. It doesn't help that the area of allergies/intolerances seems to be all relatively new, medically speaking.

I'd obviously try and get some good medical advice, but personally, I would go back to your Neocate for a few weeks; try and get the eczema under control; it seems like something might be causing it. If you wanted to add some solids, I'd go for some ground rice, (you can buy it in bags in the supermarket - not special baby rice, but in the aisle alongside the semolina and pudding rice) cooked up with the Neocate. I think most babies (in this country) are fine with rice.

I'd keep a food diary. One of those page a day ones, where I'd list what your lo has eaten and how the skin looks, which creams you've applied etc.

I'd stick with the Neocate drink and rice/Neocate mix for a couple of weeks. I'd use steroid creams twice a day on the eczema patches and 50-50 liquid paraffin emollient really liberally all over the body to keep the skin hydrated.

Then, when the skin's good again, I'd trial my first food - say pears. If there was no reaction after 3 or 4 days, I'd add another food, perhaps lamb or chicken, whizzed up with a hand blender and mixed into the rice. I'd keep adding different foods in that way, keeping the diary the whole time so you can spot any problems.

I was advised by my dietician to "just go for it" with foods when she reached the 'right' age. I did, and we're now in the situation where she's reacting badly to pretty much everything we try. We're seeing an allergist next week, so I'm hopeful that he'll be able to give us some answers to our questions.

A book I've found useful (but not a quick read, I'm afraid!) is 'Dealing with Food Allergies in Babies and Children' by Janice Vickerstaff Joneja. Another good one for broader allergy problems is 'The Allergy Bible' by Linda Gamlin.

Keep us posted, whatever you decide to do. (And you are the best one to decide what is right for your family - don't let any of us pressure you - you're the expert for your lo)

I really feel for you, as I've been there and know how frustrating, confusing and scary it all feels. HUGE hugs to you.

[KittysMum]

P.S Just had a peek at your website and watched you on telly - whoah! You're famous! Great stuff.

[Jimbob]

KittysMum has given you some great advice. I think I would stop weaning and go neocate only for a few weeks whilst treating the eczema with topical steriods and a good emollient (whatever seems to suit your ds best) until his eczema improves. When you feel that his skin is looking good I would then start trialing foods slowly. I would also start a daily diary like KittysMum mentioned as it really can help to identify triggers.

Kelly

[natashacs]

Hi KittysMum and Kelly, thanks for the advice. The eczema definitely seems to have plateaued. It's much better than before Neocate, and on some days appears completely gone - but then this morning its flared up on his cheek and its still at a low level all over. I really feel at my wits end. i can't bear to stop weaning as LO loves his food so much, and I think he will be seriously hungry. He is having 7oz bottles plus in the morning something like a 3 ice cubes of carrot, cauliflower and sweet potato (all mixed together) and in the evening baby rice mixed with apple or banana. But I can't get an appoointment at the allergy clinic despite being referred as I keep getting told there 'are no appointments'.
I can see how fruit could cause a probelm because its sweet, but is it really possible to be allergic to carrots and sweet potato? Maybe I should just stop with fruit and keep going with veg? (hmm, you can no doubt sense my reluctance).
Re the steroid cream, I've got some 2 per cent hydrocortisone from the chemist, but should I get a special baby steroid cream from GP? We're going at it with Diprobase alternated with 50 50 parafin stuff every few hours as well. Ruining all his clothes but never mind.

[natashacs]

ps thanks Kitty's mum for comments on website!!! Am definitely not famous tho.

[anna*]

Natasha, definitely get a hydrocortisone from the GP, the one they prescribe for babies is 0.5% and not available over the counter.

[natashacs]

Oh sh*t!!!!! I've been using 2 per cent one!!! Crikey. Will go to GP on Monday.

[natashacs]

Just spoken to DH, he says we should stop all fruit but keep going with the vegetables. He really has no idea but his instincts are telling him the sugar in the fruit could be making the eczema worse...

[Spectra]

I would give it a try for sure.  The sugar and/or the acid in the fruit could be the culprit.  Thankfully your son is still so young and you can easily get away with omitting fruit without him noticing.  Let us know how it goes.  That's too bad about not being able to see an allergist.  I can't imagine there NEVER being any appointments, so weird.  I'm not sure if there is another way to see one.  Is there only one in your area?