Many a new mom dealing with a fussy newborn (and truthfully, what newborn isn't fussy?), has suspected that her suffering sweetheart must accept a cow's milk allergy or intolerance, specially when well-intentioned friends and relatives are also blaming milk.

If y'all're breastfeeding or exclusively pumping, yous may assume it'southward the dairy in your nutrition that'southward causing your petty one to wail; if yous're formula feeding, you lot assume it's the moo-cow's milk in the baby formula that's causing the trouble.

Although it is one of the more than common allergies in infants, milk allergies still only affect an estimated two to 3 percent of babies. Confusing the outcome further is that many people are unaware of the differences between a milk allergy, an intolerance to milk and lactose intolerance.

To clear up the confusion, here's the breakdown on milk allergies and intolerance in breastfed and formula-fed babies.

What's the departure between milk allergies vs. lactose intolerance?

With a milk allergy in infants, a babe'south immune system reacts negatively to the proteins in cow's milk. Breastfed babies are reacting to the dairy his mother has eaten (the milk proteins laissez passer through breast milk), while formula-fed babies are reacting to the cow's milk proteins in the formula. In either case, a babe'due south immune organisation sees the cow's milk proteins as foreign substances.

Milk intolerance, on the other hand, has nothing to exercise with moo-cow'southward milk proteins or the immune system, and instead has to do with the digestive system. Your kid might have loose stools or blood in stool hours or days later.

Congenital lactose intolerance is anextremely rare metabolic condition that as well impacts the digestive system. Lactose intolerance (lactose is a sugar plant in dairy products) more unremarkably develops in older kids and adults. The few babies with lactose intolerance will usually fare much improve on a formula with little or no lactose.

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What are the symptoms of milk allergies in babies?

In its efforts to fend off the invaders, the body releases histamine and other chemicals, which cause allergic symptoms in the body.

Symptoms of milk allergies in babies include:

  • Frequent spitting upwardly
  • Vomiting
  • Signs of abdominal pain, or colic-like symptoms, such as excessive crying and irritability (especially afterward feedings)
  • Diarrhea
  • Blood in stool
  • Hives
  • A scaly skin rash
  • Coughing or wheezing
  • Watery eyes and stuffy nose
  • Trouble breathing or a bluish skin color
  • Swelling (especially of the mouth and throat)

What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance in babies?

Symptoms of lactose intolerance in babies include:

  • Gas
  • Diarrhea
  • Bloated stomach
  • Spitting upwardly
  • Irritability, crying or other colic symptoms
  • Failure to thrive and gain weight

How is a milk allergy in infants diagnosed?

If your infant has symptoms of either a milk allergy or milk intolerance, see your pediatrician. He or she will probably check for both with a physical exam, an examination of your baby'south stool, a discussion your family'due south history of allergies and/or a skin-prick exam.

If your doc thinks your babe may have a milk allergy or intolerance, and so you'll probably be asked to eliminate milk from your diet (if you're breastfeeding) or switch to a different formula (more on that below) to run across whether your newborn's symptoms better.

After your baby has been cow'south-milk-free for about a calendar week, the doc may accept yous reintroduce cow's milk to see whether your trivial one has a reaction to it.

How is a milk allergy in babies treated?

If it turns out that your newborn is one of the two to iii pct of babies who has a milk allergy, don't despair. Many children outgrow a milk allergy past the time they're effectually 1 year old, and the majority of babies with milk allergies outgrow the condition by about historic period three.

In the meantime, your child'southward medico may recommend the post-obit:

  • If your baby is formula-fed: Your pediatrician will suggest switching to a different formula. Because many babies with milk allergies are also allergic to soy (and to goat's milk), the doctor may advise a hypoallergenic formula with hydrolysate poly peptide, which has milk proteins that are already partly broken down, and so information technology's less likely to cause a reaction.
  • If you lot're breastfeeding or exclusively pumping: Your pediatrician will likely recommend that you lot ditch dairy in your diet to see whether that makes a difference to your baby. Of course, making a major alter to your diet is probably the final affair you want to recollect about when dealing with a fussy newborn, only it may very well resolve the issue. If y'all do eliminate dairy, be sure to talk with your dr. almost how to make sure yous're still getting enough calcium and other nutrients in your diet.