Milk Protein Allergy in Infants

Emylia was a fussy baby - fussy just might be the most grossly understated thing that I say in this post.  She  only ceased crying when she was eating or asleep.  After asking the doctor about her "fussiness" at her two week check and two month check, I became adamant that there was something more going on.  Babies just DO NOT cry like she was for no reason.  The doctor's suggestion to me, "Try cutting down on your dairy intake.  It'll take about two to three weeks to see full improvement."  I was desperate for a few moments of silence each day so I cut the dairy from my diet.  She turned into a totally different baby within a couple weeks.  The doctor continued to tell me that she would probably grow out of it at three months old, then four months old, then six months old.  My husband grabbed the milk-based formula last night for her evening bottle and she chugged six ounces.  This morning she woke up and was soaked with vomit.  My poor baby.  I guess she hasn't grown out of this milk protein intolerance by six months either so I knew it was time to do some research on my own.  The following is a glimpse of my findings.



A milk protein intolerance is a condition in which an infant's digestive tract cannot fully process caesin or whey protein.  The symptoms range from mild to severe.  More mild symptoms are bloating, diarrhea, and/or vomitting.  The severe symptoms can be hives, difficulty breathing, and/or bloody stools. 

A milk protein intolerance and milk allergy are COMPLETELY different from lactose intolerance.  Lactose intolerance is a non-allergic food sensitivity.

The only treatment - DAIRY ELIMINATION (which is the same as if they had a milk allergy).  For a breastfed baby, the mother must eliminate dairy from her diet.  For a formula fed baby, a non-dairy formula must be used.  Noting that the second most common allergen in an infant is soy. 



A couple of substitutes for a nursing mother include oat or almond milk.  With the elimination of dairy, a mother should check with their physician to ensure they are getting adequate calcium and the adequate calorie intake. 

THE GOOD NEWS - Milk allergy is the most common allergy in babies, affecting 2%-3% of babies in developed countries.  85% to 90% of these babies will outgrow the allergy by age 3!!!!