Is It the Lactose Base in Formula My Infant Is Reacting To?

Carolyn,

When in doubt, cut out the milk. You are breastfeeding, and that is plenty for him right now, in fact, right up until a year of age. If you can try pumping, and give him that in a bottle, that might help, too. You've got the clues: extra crampy after formula. Trust your instincts.

Milk is milk. I don't know that it can be treated so that little tummies can tolerate it better - go with your gut reaction, it sounds like you know your baby.

He doesn't NEED formula. He receives all he needs in one nice, neat little package deal from you.

Good luck, and congratulations on your little boy being breastfed so long and so well!

M.

My son who is now 10 months had the same issues. After finally seeing a specialist I was told that between 4-6 months of age is when GERD, reflux is the worst, by the time my son was 9 months it was gone. e is now on regular Simiac (instead of Alimentium)and rarely if ever spits up anymore.

get a referral to an allergist. I think GERD is often mistaken for allergies.
My son was diagnosed at 6 month with allergies with a skin test. He was exclusively breastfed but he was reacting to stuff I was eating.

Carolyn,
It may be that your baby is reacting to the DHA/ARA which is added to the formula. If you Google Cornucopia report you will find more information on this. Basically formula companies have added DHA/ARA to make formula more like mother's milk because breastmilk naturally contains these. The only difference is that the DHA and ARA in formula is produced by a fungus - and the report shows has led to many babies having stomach and indigestion problems.

The best thing to do would be to talk to your doctor.

I would see an allergist. My daughter is allergic to milk, eggs and soy. So just cutting milk may not be the answer. also, try a non hyperalogenic formula, see if that helps. We found this about about 6 months, its worth getting it checked into.

While dairy can definitely make reflux worse for some babies (it did for mine in my breastmilk for the first 4 months), it is almost never the lactose which is the problem. Pediatricians are almost unanimous in their opinions regarding this. It's a total gimmick by the formula companies to make money with lactose-free formula! Apparently breastmilk is loaded with lactose!

But my son was extremely sensitive to the protein in dairy, so I had to cut out all dairy products from my diet. His reflux definitely improved some (though not completely). Reflux is usually caused by an immature valve between the esophagus and the stomach, and it's almost always cured by time. In addition to cutting out dairy, I also gave my son prescribed Zantac. Around his 7 month birthday, I introduced dairy-based formula with no trouble at all. He also stopped the Zantac.

But reflux and gas are totally different! If your son is crampy and gassy, then that is often a simple food sensitivity. (Not necessarily a long term allergy.) Talk to your doctor about how to cut out foods, and then reintroduce them slowly. I cut out all dairy, egg, and wheat for a while. Then slowly introduced stuff back in. It was the dairy that was the culprit, but again- he outgrew it within a few months. (Phew!)

Good luck!

Carolyn,

It may be the protein in the milk and not necessarily the lactose. My daughter could take no other formula except Nutramagen (not sure of spelling it was 19 years ago) but it worked like a charm. The proteins are broken down for much easier digestion. It was very costly then so I can't imagine what it costs now but I would have paid anything for her to be comfortable. One day she screamed for 19 out of 24 hours I was at my wits end. It is worth a try but check with you doctor first before just trying anything. Good luck and happy holidays!!