Got Milk (Allergy)? Learn About An Infant Milk Allergy.
Having an allergy can be a drag. But do you know what happens when a little one has an infant milk allergy? The body is an amazing thing. It really tries hard to protect itself. It has so many outside elements trying to infiltrate it and destroy its precious matter. So when there is a milk allergy, the body does something weird. The body thinks the protein in milk is an enemy that is trying to hurt it. So after it has made that decision, it will produce immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies. So the next time you ingest milk, the immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies will recognize the milk protein as an enemy, and will tell your immune system to release histamines and other chemicals to protect itself against this foreign invader (milk protein). Once the histamines and other chemicals are released, the body will show signs letting you know what has happened. This is an allergic reaction. Some of the allergic signs are:
In worse (but rare) cases, DEATH! So the best thing to do if you think your child is allergic to milk is to tell your little one’s pediatrician. He will run tests to confirm that your little one has a diary allergy. If your little one’s pediatrician confirms that your baby does have a milk allergy, then the only way to prevent an allergic reaction is avoidance. This may be difficult because milk is a very common ingredient in food. But that’s ok. There are lots of diary-free substitutes that are yummy and tasty. And what fun it will be to try a bunch of foods that you and your little one may not have tried before. You can dedicate a day as the ”Food Exploration Day”. This will be the day to try a couple of new dairy-free substitutes. And it is even more fun when the entire family gets involved. And if you have an infant that is on formula, then it is best to switch from cow’s milk formula to soy-based or hypoallergenic formula. However, of course, feeding your little one breast milk is best. But, if you are breastfeeding, it is best to limit the amount of dairy products that you eat too. The milk protein that causes an allergic reaction to dairy can taint your breast milk. Depending on the severity of your little one's allergy, he/she may be able to eventually tolerate small amounts of dairy. So until then, remove milk and diary products from your little one’s diet. And replace those items with tasty
diary-free substitutes.
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