[Hartoog1]

Hi ladies. I haven't been on any of the other forums here lately. Life with a baby is just a little crazy. Desperation brings me here today. My 4 month old breastfed- only baby has an allergy to cows millk protein. He has horendous eczema which we are treating through homeopathy. I have two questions. 1) does anyone have a success story with treating this with homeopathy and 2) does any one know of a diet I can try. I have to illimiate ALL dairy from my diet. It is providing very tough. I didn't know how many things actually contain diary!
Thanks, Gina

[twinzplus3]

You have to be more specific about homeopathy. I do not generally treat eczema with anything other than lots of moisturizing and preventing scratching at night.

Secondlly, I don't like the term cow's protein allergy. The reason is bc it makes it sound like they'll never grow out of it. Think of it right now as an intolerance. Try soy based products in lieu of dairy for now and that should help you weather the period a little bit. Know too that most babies will outgrow this eventually. An insensitivty to cow's milk is pretty common to varying degrees. Wait a few months--no dairy--and then try a pat of butter or something very small. . .and see how it goes. But yes, babies can and do outgrow this.

[Hartoog1]

I have recently changed to a baby range that is made in Germany and it is definately helping with the scratching. He seems much more comfortable. My paed refered to it as a cows milk protein allergy and I have found alot of info on the net using this term. It isn't a lactose intolerance. His tests were fine and he is gaining. As for the homeopathy, I went to a homeopath and he prescribed some 4 different types of drops which we are using throughout the day. No creams. He wants to treat it from the inside. The steriod creams relieve the itch and mask the problem. I have been warned by 2 doctors that this allergy can go into asthma and I must continue breastfeeding for as long as possible, no soya formula yet. I am trying to include a little soya in my own diet (it is tough with no dairy) by can't take too much as it worsens my migraines!
{quote=twinzplus3]You have to be more specific about homeopathy. I do not generally treat eczema with anything other than lots of moisturizing and preventing scratching at night. Secondlly, I don't like the term cow's protein allergy. The reason is bc it makes it sound like they'll never grow out of it. Think of it right now as an intolerance. Try soy based products in lieu of dairy for now and that should help you weather the period a little bit. Know too that most babies will outgrow this eventually. An insensitivty to cow's milk is pretty common to varying degrees. Wait a few months--no dairy--and then try a pat of butter or something very small. . .and see how it goes. But yes, babies can and do outgrow this.[/quote]

[twinzplus3]

Oh. . .I'm not saying it doesn't exist. I'm saying that I don't like the term. That's just me. Neither did I say that it was lactose intolerance--that is different--I'm aware. In using the word intolerance I was referring to an intolerance for cow's milk protein. And YES you need to keep breastfeeding as long as possible. I'm not sure how you could assume I meant anything else??? You must not have read enough of my posts yet. I meant that YOU could have soy stuff in lieu of regular dairy. Your baby should never need formula if you're willing to nurse that long and exclusively. I'm sorry for not being more clear. I never said anything about steroid creams. . .I said I moisturized. We don't do steroid creams here either.

Apparently you already have a pretty good plan in place. I'm sorry--I thought you just wanted reassurance that it can go away.

[deedee1231]

I am not the person to answer about the breast feeding questions, but I have some experience with eczema. My son started with the eczema issues very early on as well, (just a few months old) and I completely understand that you do not want to use steriod creams on him at his age. I am not familiar with homeopathic remedies for eczema but I would think you would want to moisturize the outbreaks. I always used Eucerin cream or Aquaphor cream for my children. They are not homeopathic and I doubt they are even very natural, but they work and they do not contain steriods. They do not mask the condition, but heal the skin, which is what you are trying to do. Many children will also outgrow eczema when they are a little older. But it is essential that the skin be adequately moisturized in order for that to happen.

[DK615617]

I am glad that you are taking the cow's milk protein allergy seriously! So many people don't. And so many people assume they will grow out of it as they get older, and that is not always true. (of course you hope they do) but sometimes they don't. And I see where Val was coming from, as far as the way she referred to it, but I think you need to call it what it is, it is an allergy. And a dangerous one, if ignored. And yes a lot of kids grow out of it, but a lot don't. In fact current research shows that more and more kids are staying allergic to cow's milk protein for longer and longer. They are trying to figure out why.
I think it is great that you are doing Homeopathic remedies too, too many people turn to prescription drugs first. Don't get me wrong, they are important, but I think other things should be tried first!!! Good job on taking such good care of your baby!!!!!

[KR258]

I found a oatmeal bath helped my daughter when she had problems with eczema

[jmmv08]

When my daughter had problems with eczema, I usually try prescription drugs first. I think it is also great that we do Homeopathic remedies too. We can choose which is more effective.

[Samual]

Jamie gets eczema, we wash all his clothes and bedding in organic detergent, e.g ecover. Then we just wash his skin in plain warm water and it goes, when ever we use a moisturiser or an eczema cream he gets really bad breakouts. When he does get a break out we put TCP on the rash to stop it getting infected.
For quite a few different milk allergies you can buy the enzymes in tablet form from a health shop or get a prescription from your doctor. I wouldn't get them from a health shop myself as they are completely unregulated, but if the NHS approves them, I would take in the prescription.

[purelegance]

my sister had cows milk protein allergy, she's since outgrown it. her mom said once she was about a year she'd start giving her a teaspoon of milk a day for a few days, then 2 and so on until she was up to a full cup of milk. she's probably the only one of us who actually still drinks milk.