Baby formula is made with your baby's digestive system in mind. But what if it does not agree with them?
Standard cow's milk baby formula is ideal for most babies. It has the vitamins and minerals your baby needs and it is broken down so it is easier for them to digest compared to regular cow's milk. However, a small percentage of infants cannot tolerate the standard baby formula. How do you know if your baby is one of the few?
Skin
If your baby's soft, smooth skin turns red, itchy and flaky, they are dealing with a skin allergy. Your baby can be dealing with blotchy hives or even the dry patches of eczema that can be found behind the knees or within the elbow. Swelling lips or mouth are of greater concern, especially if your baby starts to have trouble breathing. That is the time to call 911.
Belly
After your baby eats, you may see symptoms that can indicate a food allergy. Your baby may have more gas than usual. This can lead to a lot of fussiness after they eat or excessive crying that is not due to sleepiness, hunger, or a dirty diaper. Your baby may spit up from time to time, but a baby dealing with a food allergy will sometimes vomit, even forcefully.
Diaper
There are a number of causes for a diaper rash, but irritation can be treated with diaper rash cream. If a rash or a red ring found around the anus does not go away after at-home treatments, it could be a sign of a food allergy. The same is true with diarrhea that does not seem to go away. If your baby has any of these symptoms, you need to discuss it with your pediatrician. They can test stool for allergies or see if your baby is still growing as needed rather than failing to thrive. A change in baby formula may be the best solution for your baby's comfort as well as development.
Common Food Allergies for Babies
Milk protein intolerance is one of the more common allergies that babies develop. Your baby may have tummy troubles, but they may also have blood or mucus in the stool. Diarrhea, frequent spit ups or vomiting, and skin rash are other indicators of milk protein allergy. A change to a soy-based baby formula is not always an option because many babies who are allergic to milk protein are also allergic to the protein in soy formula.
Milk protein intolerance is different than lactose intolerance. Milk protein generally goes away after your baby turns one, while lactose intolerance often develops later in childhood.
Sometimes it is the ingredients in your baby's formula that can cause some of the allergic reactions. Skin allergies or excess gas can be caused by the additives that are in the formula. Some baby formulas will say that they use natural ingredients, but the process in which to extract the vitamins or minerals use chemicals that are not easily tolerated by sensitive infants.
Does your baby need a baby formula that treats little ones with sensitivities or allergies? Parents with babies who are dealing with an allergy look to organic baby formula because it does not have the same additives, chemicals, and preservatives that can trigger allergic reactions in their baby. Hipp Hypoallergenic Stage 1 Combiotic is one option. The milk proteins are broken down even further so that the body does not react to it as much as regular baby formula. Another option is Holle's Goat's Milk Formula that is gentler on a baby's stomach, especially if they deal with an allergy to milk protein.
Edited and reposted from April 2018