Kids Food Allergies Blog

I appreciate your comments on the probable link between food allergies and acid reflux.  I think you’re on to something.

As I understand it — if a nursing mother eats something to which her baby is allergic, unhealthy levels of acid can be produced in her milk.  That is why antacid medicine can be helpful — especially until the allergen can be identified and eliminated from the mom’s diet.

What I’m trying to figure out is whether the reaction is an allergy or an intolerance.  At this young age — it’s hard to know for sure.  And maybe it doesn’t matter.  Where the distinction becomes important is that if it is an allergen it must be eliminated entirely.  If it is an intolerance, small quantities are tolerable.  That is what I am hoping for.  It will be easier for me to reduce quantities of soy, rather than eliminate it entirely.  1) I’d like to make 1 meal my entire family can eat, and 2) I want to make sure I get a balanced diet for me and for the baby.

Also, I am also wary of blaming allergies without first exploring other possibilities.  With my big girl, every time she gets sick — I tend to look at it at through an allergy lens.   And 90% of the time, I tend to be right.  I don’t want to jump to that same conclusion with the baby, because she’s a different kid.  Maybe it’s not allergies.  Maybe she’s got an immature GI tract and I need to cut out caffeine and chocolate (even if it is dairy and soy free).  There are lots of things I could take before going completely soy free.  Right?

I would welcome a Q and A with Debra (or any other member of the nutrition community) on how nursing mothers can safely implement an elimination diet while making sure that they get adequate nutrition for themselves and their babies.   I’m sure it would be helpful to other moms like me trying to sort out these issues.  Any interest?

My big girl was diagnosed with food allergies at 11 months.  The only warning sign we had before her eyes swelled shut was eczema.

My little baby may also have food allergies.  Too young to know conclusively.  But I feel it in my gut.  And unfortunately in hers as well.  Painful reflux.  Gagging.  Projectile vomiting.  When I first suspected allergies or reflux, I paid close attention to what I ate and when symptoms occurred.  She was still sick if I ate nothing but rice and chicken and sweet potatoes.  Maybe it wasn’t food allergies.  I added dairy back into my diet.  Things got really bad.  Again, I terminated the dairy experiment.  I took her to the pediatrician.  He put her on medicine.  Things got better, but didn’t resolve entirely.  Pediatrician sent us for a GI consult.

The GI concluded that it is most likely food allergies.  He gave me FAAN handouts on how to avoid milk, egg, soy, peanuts, treenuts, shellfish, and wheat.  I told him I knew these handouts well — and the only allergens still left in my diet are soy and wheat.  The GI thinks the baby may be allergic to dairy and soy.  I think he’s right.  I also think she’s allergic to corn.

I am unclear how diligent I must be in avoiding these allergens.  There is enough family history that I need to go cold turkey on milk.  Not a big problem in my household.  Soy is a different story.  Is it good enough to ramp down on the quantities of soy I consume — or must I avoid soy entirely?  I am inclined toward gradual elimination.  I should probably stop drinking soy milk for breakfast, soynutbutter sandwiches at lunch, and soy ice cream for dessert.  But small quantities of soy should probably be OK, right - e.g., creamer for coffee, butter for toast?

Were any of your children diagnosed with food allergies as infants?  How were their allergies discovered?  How did you handle it?  If you nursed through food allergies — how strictly did you avoid the allergen?

Thanks to all who weighed in with congratulations on the baby and support of dairy-restricted nursing. Baby girl is now 3 weeks and 2 days old. Here are some thoughts from the past few weeks:

• I ended up needing small quantities of hypoallergenic formula in the hospital. I had a very small, very hungry newborn who screamed around the clock because she was hungry and my milk had not yet come in. When I asked the hospital for hypoallergenic formula — first, the nurses told me I shouldn’t use it/didn’t need it. Then, they told me that I needed a doctor’s prescription for it. Tough to get at 3 am. I’m really glad I brought my own. And I’m even more glad that several weeks later, I no longer need to use it.
• I don’t know why I was so worried about producing milk on a dairy-free diet. Wasn’t an issue. But for those who have similar concerns, I discovered a delicious calcium source: calcium-fortified 100% cranberry juice. I like it much better than calcium-fortified OJ.
• I keep looking for clues that could indicate whether baby 2 will become allergic kid 2. But my initial observations point both ways. It’s just too early to tell.
  • Could be allergic: is very fussy after I eat dairy or onions (I should know better on both counts), born with big allergic shiners under the eyes (could also be newborn puffiness)
  • Could be not allergic: less sensitive skin than my first born (no eczema, cradle cap, diaper rash), less alert than my first born.

Time will tell. I’m going to stop beating myself up too much. I will watch what I eat (in moderation). I’m still not giving her solids until 6 months, and keeping her dairy and nut free until an allergist indicates otherwise.

I spent the afternoon of Tuesday, August 12 frantically baking a birthday cake for “the new baby” that the whole family could enjoy. On Wednesday, August 13, I gave birth to a second daughter.

Little did I know that, at the same time I was baking, the good folks at Divvies were sending my family a box of beautiful, delicious cupcakes that would render my frantic efforts unnecessary.

When I got home from the hospital, we had a really great birthday party — and a birthday cake taste test. Three participants. One all-powerful judge.

So, which tasted better? The homemade cake (pink icing) or the Divvies cupcakes? “I like them both the same,” says daughter #1. “Does that mean I get to eat 2 desserts?”

Thank you, thank you Divvies for filling this market need for milk-, egg-, and nut-free cupcakes. We loved the wonderful treats. Thank you for sending them. We’ll be ordering from you again soon.

I’m not sure whether I’m alone in this, or whether I have company. So, I’ll put it out there. I’m really worried that the hospital staff will give milk formula supplements to my newborn in the hospital nursery. There. I said it. It happened to my first born five years ago. Different hospital, different time, different level of awareness? I am not trying to blame her severe milk allergy on early milk exposure. But, at the same time, I’ve worked so hard over the past 9 months to prevent food allergies in baby 2 that I would hate for a few bottles of formula to undermine my efforts in any way.

Since my husband and I will be unable to keep a watchful eye over the baby at the nursery 24/7 to prevent formula supplements, I did the very next best thing. I made a sign to hang on the baby’s bassinet. I hope it is effective.

On to fear 2: The baby books say I will need five servings of calcium/day to help my milk come in. I plan on taking calcium supplements. But I would like to meet at least part of my daily calcium requirement from a natural food source. There’s no way I can tolerate that much milk, regardless of the baby and food allergies. I can’t stomach fortified rice milk straight up either (a texture thing). But I have come to enjoy soy quite a bit. Soynutbutter. Soy cheese. Soy yogurt. Chocolate soy milk. Tofu even. How much is too much?

If you have any experience combating either of these fears, please leave a comment to tell me your story.