could it be, and if it could what should I do?

[lisi's mum]

So I have a LONG history with dd - never an easy baby, refluxy (but untreated - drs not aggressive over here), phlegmy - at the slightest sniffle she gets a rattle in her throat which takes ages to go away. She was a big screamer and has always been a terrible sleeper, but recently it's got worse and she's got a few very dry skin patches - to a point I'd call them eczema (sufferer myself)

Now this worse sleep and splodgy skin...

she's cutting molars, she's just learnt to walk, she's just moved into her sister's bed room, I've stopped feeding her whenever she wants it through the night, the air is incredibly dry here (20% humidity in our flat)

but also she's started getting cow's milk...

It just got me to wondering, could this be the root of all our problems? Any thoughts?

She's 13 months btw

[Spectra]

It's always possible.  Was she breast fed or formula fed before?  Could you try a soy, rice, or almond milk for a couple of weeks to see if that helps?

[lisi's mum]

She is still bf-ed so any dairy elimination would involve me too, hence my hesitancy!

If it is dairy isn't it likely that soy could also be a problem? And what's the calcium situation with rice or almond?

I know nothing!

[Spectra]

Rice milk is fortified and has 30 percent calcium and Vit D and a few others.  The only thing it really lacks is fat.  There is a thread on here discussing on how to increase the fat in rice milk.  Soy could definitely be a problem, though some babies are able to tolerate it over regular milk, mine couldn't and I had him on rice milk for awhile.  I fortified it with some coconut milk for fat.  If they are getting lots of fat through their food you really don't have to worry about it as much.  Here is that thread:: http://babywhispererforums.com/index.php?topic=127677.0

I did rice milk just to prove to my docs that it was indeed the formula causing the problems, he was only 10 months at the time and the docs just were not listening.  Once I proved to them he cannot have regular milk they put him on a special formula.    I don't know much about the almond milk, but all this is in the grocery store and there are so many different kinds.  Some even have more fat than others, so if you go that route, rice/almond milk, look around for something good. 

[scarlettsmom]

just wanted to send (((hugs))) it is VERY hard diagnosing milk intolerance/allergy.  The symptoms can be so different - for us Gwyneth has classic GI symptoms - mucousy stools w/blood in them, congestion, ab pain etc.  But it can present itself differently for every baby.  IF you suspect a milk intolerance it unfortunately (or fortunately since YOU are in control) falls directly on you to work around it.  Just know that it can take a couple of weeks to get out of both of your systems.  If you go that route I would go full force (well, I did, lol!) and cut out obvious dairy along w/hidden dairy.  It's challenging the first week, but then it feels much better. 

btw - something interesting I read was that colic is almost 90% solvable - it's either a food/milk intolerance, or reflux.  Interesting...

Good luck.  I hope she ( and you) figure it out.   

[scarlettsmom]

Oh, real quick - regarding the soy.  Yes, many babies who are milk allergic/intolerant have the same issues with soy.  With Gwyneth I cut out pretty much everything - milk, soy, eggs, wheat, nuts, fish, etc.  but that was due to my own allergies as a child.  We had her tested and she has a big milk allergy, and some others, but soy was a trace reaction and our allergist wants her to start soy soon, he is pretty confident that it's not an issue.  Sooooo - it's really your gut on this one.  I personally cut it out because I couldn't deal with weeks and weeks more of "seeing" - so wanted to start with a very basic baseline diet.  You could cut out all obvious and hidden dairy and soy and then slowly start adding back hidden/trace soy and see - or start w/dairy first.  It will just take time.  It's a hard decision, I know.  Just know that it is so much easier doing it for your kid than yourself.  It's strange, but I guess it's that mama gene.

Good luck - (I'm enjoying a glass of "safe" red wine - dd can't tolerate milk, but wine is a pass, lol!)

[lisi's mum]

(I'm enjoying a glass of "safe" red wine - dd can't tolerate milk, but wine is a pass, lol!)

LOL, that's a fair trade off I'd say! 

Thanks for all that. I went to see my ped today who said that the skin is usually the first thing to react if the body doesn't like something, and that something is usually food related but if she were me she wouldn't cut out the dairy as it's so hard and Norah's skin isn't that bad 

I still think that the phlegm is beyond  "normal" and the sleep... maybe that's wishful thinking, but seems to me that the cow's milk really could effect sleep.

I'll go take a look at the rice milk at the whole food store, I wonder if I can persuade her to drink it! Isn't it a shame that the vast majority of milk replacement things (like yogurt) are soy based. Ho hum.

I suspect that this inkling won't go away unless I try. Here's to at least a month of rice milk cappuccinos for me in the morning 

[MLK]

Cow's milk definitely can affect sleep! It IS hard to go dairy free but once the initial adjustment is made you get used to it. I'm not a coffee drinker though... I console myself with thinking about all the weight I've lost!

[Spectra]

It is hard, but so worth it if it is the problem!  It affect my boy's sleep.  He was waking several times a night, crying, not hungry, gassy, itching from the eczema.  Rice milk was my saviour!  He took to it really well.  I had to gradually add it to his formula then  fully on it he was fine.  I think it's worth a shot to try.  In the first week his eczema started to clear.  It took about 3 weeks total for all his symptoms to go away.

[scarlettsmom]

Huge ((((hugs)))).  It's difficult at first, for sure.  But if that's the issue as soon as you start to see the progress it will change your entire home life.  The first week is the worst - so just hang in there!!  After that it gets much much easier and there are SO many alternatives to cow's milk.  I can't recall if you are giving up soy too?  But if not there is flavored soy milk, almond milk, coconut milk, rice milk. 

Come here and let us know how it's going - we'll help you through!!!  I think someone (Lan?) found some milk and soy free chocolate too