Food allergies are becoming more and more common lately, and there’s a good chance that your new baby just might be allergic to certain types of baby formula.
A common allergy is to proteins found in cow’s milk.
Making things worse, about half of infants that are allergic to cow’s milk are allergic to soy-based milk, as well, which is the primary alternative to cow’s milk based formula.
Choosing the best baby formula will mean making sure that your child has no allergies, and if they do, selecting a formula that will avoid triggering any allergic reactions.
What Are the Signs?
There are a few tell-tale signs that your baby might be allergic to his formula. There are also some subtle clues you’ll want to keep an eye out for.
Signs That Your Baby Might Be Allergic To His Formula
- Increased fussiness or discomfort during or after feeding — This is a common sign that your child may be allergic to their formula.
- Increased gassiness or “collicky” — Increased gas may be a sign that your baby has a lactose intolerance or allergy.
- Red ring around anus — If your baby develops this and does not seem to clear up with the use of zinc oxide preparation, it could be a sign that your baby has allergies to their formula.
- Irregular stool — If your baby’s stool seems irregular: overly loose/watery or excessively hard, foul smelling, this is another potential sign.
- Rash, hives or eczema — These are a common sign in allergic children.
- Excessive spitting up — While not necessarily a sign that your baby is allergic to his or her formula, it could be a sign.
Is There Any Way To Reduce My Baby’s Chance of Developing Allergies?
While food allergies seem to be on the rise, there are a few things you can do to possibly lessen the chance that your child develops them.
You can also ask your parents as well as your partner’s parents about food allergies that you or your partner had as children. While not all allergies are passed down this way, it could give you ideas of what to be cautious about.
Other than that, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests that delaying introducing your child to foods until they are older in no way reduces the risk of them developing allergies.
However, experts do agree that you should breast feed your baby until they are 6 months of age, if not longer. This is a great idea especially if your family has a history of allergy problems.
What Should I Do if I Believe My Baby Has Allergies?
If you suspect that your child has an allergy to his or her baby formula, the best course of action would be to take them to their pediatrician. They will be able to answer any questions you have and hopefully diagnose for certain if your child does in fact suffer from a food-related allergy.
What Do I Do if My Baby Is Allergic to His Formula?
There are options for parents that wish to feed their baby formula but have to work around food allergies. If your son or daughter is allergic to cow’s milk but not soy milk, there are several soy milk-based formulas out there that will probably suit you just fine.
Then again, many children who are allergic to cow’s milk are also allergic to soy milk. In that case, you still have options. A certain type of baby formula called “Elemental Formula” is specifically designed for children that are allergic to both cow and soy-based formula.
If your son or daughter has difficulty with their formula, don’t fret! These days we have so many different options and information available to us that there’s really no need to worry. There’s no reason why this has to be a difficult issue at all.
Can Food Allergies Be Treated?
Unfortunately, at this point in time, there are no known cures or treatments for food allergies. This means that the best you can do is become vigilant and make sure that you avoid foods that will cause the allergic reaction.
While dealing with some allergies can be difficult — certain foods can be found everywhere! — you’ll have to be vigilant and read food labels thoroughly.