foodallergymom

Only a doctor can diagnose a food allergy, but there are signs you can look for to determine if your baby should visit a doctor.

Milk allergy symptoms in infants can be difficult to spot, since infants are prone to spitting up even in the absence of an allergy.

In my daughter’s case, it was a cluster of problems, not just one symptom that alerted us to the fact that she could have a milk allergy.  Larkin manifested the following symptoms that set us to wondering:

• rash - Despite using the mildest detergents, cleansers and lotions, and eventually just water, Larkin had a persistent rash over most of her body that was clearly causing her discomfort.
• vomiting - No, I’m not talking spitting up here.  I’m talking change the whole outfit, plus bedding every time it happened.  Larkin wasn’t just spitting up, she was spewing what sometimes appeared to be the entire 4 ounces she’d just eaten.
• fussiness - I know all babies can be fussy, but Larkin was unhappy 85% of the time.  And that’s high, even for an infant.
• no weight gain - Most likely a result of the vomiting, Larkin showed little to no weight gain during her first few months in this world. 

Although these symptoms on their own would not necessarily be a cause for panic to a new parent, the appearance of all these symptoms together seemed more than a coincidence. 

A doctor’s visit would later prove what we feared - milk allergy, along with soy, wheat, peanuts, and egg.  Finding a baby formula for her to drink was the first of many hunts for an acceptable menu for Larkin.

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