[Babetty]

Obviously I will go to the doctor for advice but in the meantime, any ideas on what the problem could be?

I've noticed my DD gets a red blotchy rash round her mouth after eating - still working on the process of elimination, but it seems to be when she has something with milk or formula mixed in it. (Apart from some solids, she is still fully breastfed so hasn't 'drunk' formula yet, or cows milk for that matter).

Any idea what could be the problem? I eat quite a bit of dairy, so it has to be something that isn't in my breast milk.

I have to get her started on a bottle soon-ish before I return to work in February. For various reasons, expressing is not an option for me, so this seeming sensitivity to a little bit of formula mixed in with fruit or rice cereal is a little worrying....I'm not going to be giving her a bottle of formula until it's sorted out.

She is 5 months old.

[Dylan's Mummy]

It could be ezcema. My bub got a rash around his mouth and it was ezcama. Try elimating the rice cereal because it is a common cause of ezcema flare ups. she may also get it behind her knees and inside her elbows.

Our can buy ezcema creams at the chemist. If the ezcema is really bad you can take bub to the doctor and get a description cream which will help a lot. I now use our prescription cream when his ezcema gets bad. Bath your bub in a mild bath wash, particularly if it is reccomend for babies with ezcema. Also, keep the bath water a bit cooler than usual.

I haven't quite worked out what to give him for breakfast instead but have mostly given him plain natural yoghurt with puréed fruit in it. You can get puréed pears at in the baby food section (hidden on the bottom shelf) and I also make puréed strawberries, peaches, blueberries and apricots. I have given him porridge too but with water and yoghurt instead of milk. Today I gave him scrambled egg (with cow milk) which didn't go down well, he spewed it up a couple of hours later.

[Babetty]

It could be ezcema. My bub got a rash around his mouth and it was ezcama. Try elimating the rice cereal because it is a common cause of ezcema flare ups. she may also get it behind her knees and inside her elbows.

Thanks - yes she is prone to ezcema and has a persistent patch behind her knee. I didn't know about rice cereal contributing to it though! The rash only lasts an hour or so though after she has eaten?

I'll try eliminating rice cereal and reintroducing milk or formula!

[SqueakInCanada]

It could be a cows milk allergy? To give you our story - DD came up in hives after having yoghurt (and a few other foods) and we went to a paed allergist who diagnosed a cows milk allergy (amongst other things). She also had eczema but the hives reaction was different. This was while I was breastfeeding her and eating diary at the same time, and she never reacted like that to my milk. I was advised to cut out dairy from my diet with the hopes/theory that it would help the eczema, which I did for about 8 months, but now at 18months I'm able to eat dairy again without it seeming to cause an eczema flare up. However, DD is still on a dairy free (amongst other allergies) diet until she is retested at 2 years.
So I guess I'm saying that I think it's very possible for your LO to have an allergy to something that shows up when they ingest it directly, but have no (or not the same) reaction when you eat that food and breastfeed. I'm def not an expert on this though, so the plan to see a Dr sounds like a good one!

[lucky 2]

Try elimating the rice cereal because it is a common cause of ezcema flare ups.

It is? I thought rice was used as it not low on the list of possible allergens?
I'd be more likely to think it's from formula but as your baby has a history of excema could you talk with your chn +/- gp?
She already has atopic symptoms so I'd be getting some help with it.
Did she get any formula in the early days?

[Babetty]

Did she get any formula in the early days?

No, never had any formula.

She doesn't get the same rash from yoghurt (I think, will have to try again to be sure). Just want to make sure I know what foods cause the rash, so I can go to the Dr with full information.

Just vegetables are fine - she had peas and carrot for lunch, with no problems.

[abbyminnie]

DD2 also had rash on her face around her mouth area when we gave her formula. She had a slightly milder rash when she's had yoghurt. She also had bad eczema on her face. Turned out that she was allergic to dairy. Once we cut out dairy, her eczema disappeared.

[Babetty]

Well, rice cereal doesn't cause the rash, but yoghurt does in addition to milk and formula. Maybe the dairy in my diet is contributing to her eczema too!

And I love my dairy sooo much!! I was only planning to BF for 6 months, but sort of hoping to go a bit longer so will have to see what happens.

Oh well, off to the doctor.

[Phascogale]

If she's prone to eczema (when exclusively breastfed) and it's worse when she has dairy it could very well be a cow's milk protein intolerance. There are some kids that are fine with the proteins through your breastmilk but still have an issue but it's not until they get it direct that you see a reaction.

Also with the eczema coming and going - it could be dose dependant. It may get a bit worse when you yourself eat more dairy than usual and when you cut it back, it's not as bad or goes away when you're breastfeeding.

Be aware that about 50% of kids with cows milk protein allergy/intolerance also have a soy intolerance. You may need something like rice milk but make sure it's calcium fortified.

[misse10]

It could be a cows milk allergy? To give you our story - DD came up in hives after having yoghurt (and a few other foods) and we went to a paed allergist who diagnosed a cows milk allergy (amongst other things). She also had eczema but the hives reaction was different. This was while I was breastfeeding her and eating diary at the same time, and she never reacted like that to my milk. I was advised to cut out dairy from my diet with the hopes/theory that it would help the eczema, which I did for about 8 months, but now at 18months I'm able to eat dairy again without it seeming to cause an eczema flare up. However, DD is still on a dairy free (amongst other allergies) diet until she is retested at 2 years.
So I guess I'm saying that I think it's very possible for your LO to have an allergy to something that shows up when they ingest it directly, but have no (or not the same) reaction when you eat that food and breastfeed. I'm def not an expert on this though, so the plan to see a Dr sounds like a good one!

can i ask what you did about this with formula (which type)...or didn't you give any?
My DS (6.5mo) had a violent reaction to his first yoghurt (hives & vomiting) and is fully breastfed, but i was hoping to give the occasional bit of formula, either on his farex or if i don't get home before he needs me, but have been too afraid to try as i'm worried about him having an allergic reaction to the formula.