What Is Left?

Hi M.,

In Africa they don't have fancy things to help babies with problems, they simply can't afford it or it's not readily available, but they use Red Bush Tea. It's high in vitamin C and and other minerals, it's been used for over 500 years. Good luck.

M.,
Hi there. I am not familiar with allergies and children. I feel very lucky that both of my kids are allergy free for the most part. My husband, however is allergic to cow's milk. He has recently started drinking Almond Milk. My youngest daughter doesn't like cow's milk, but she does drink Almond milk. It might work for the little guy you watch, or it might be worth looking into. We buy it at Trader Joe's. It is a small healthy foods grocery store, and I think the stores are all over the west coast. I hope this helps.
T.

Try almond milk. It is delicious and trader joes and wholefoods
carries it. It is also high in calcium.
D. Merlin
mother/author
www.victoryoveradhd.com

Try a nutritionist
Hope Royal N.D. ###-###-####
She's in the Yucaipa area, but she'll come to your home for the consultation/evaluation. I use her and she's helped our family in many areas. She's worth a phone call.
good luck
T. H

Hi M.,

Poor little man =( At least you and the parents know what he's allergic to. If he's allergic to milk, then stay away from it. Like the other moms suggested, first find out if he's allergic to nuts, then try the Almond milk to see if he can drink that. But there are alternatives to these allergies, it's just a matter of finding them. Here are a few great websites to help you and parents get ideas for food:

www.foodallergy.org
www.kidswithfoodallergies.org
www.allergicchild.com

Also, try giving him flaxseed oil. For him, probably just a 1 tsp. The omega-3 fats in there will help with his skin as well, because children with eczema usually lack these fats from their deprived diets. I also liked the idea of the avocados =)

Make sure as the weather gets warmer he drinks plenty of water and stays cool. Hot weather will make him feel miserable. Children with eczema don't sweat like other children to cool themselves off. Or if going natural as much as much as possible, try applying pure aloe vera gel. It heals and smooths skin as well. I know that this sounds like an oxymoron but peanut oil works on my son's skin. Ask if the pediatrician or his pediatric dermatologist has heard of Derma-Smoothe. My son's pediatric dermatologist gave him this prescription and it has worked wonders on my son.

Hi M.-
I have taken my son off of milk too, but can drink rice milk (dosent like it). Your question is a great question to ask on my Yahoo groups (1) feingold-program4us or (2) gfcfrecipes. They are both great forums. One supports Feingolder's (which I am, you may want to read up on that!) and the other is just an open Gluten Free/Casin Free forum with LOTS of support. I'd be concerned that he has more sensitivities.
Best of Luck, M..

in a health food store you can find oat milk (which i think is delicious!), hazelnt milk, almond milk, mixed grain (check which grains are in it that there are no allergens). most milk alternatives are fortified with calcium and b12 and vit. d. oat and almond milk are also very easy to make.
good luck!

Hi! I am a RN, who gave up my job temporarily to stay at home with my 2 wonderful little boys. They are 11 months apart and both get eczema (and sometimes diarrhea) due to multiple food allergies so I can totally relate. My youngest one, who will be 2 in about 2 weeks, had his first blood allergy test done at 9 1/2 months and he was allergic to everything under the sun (milk, soy, wheat, peanut, egg, corn) and later we found out he was also allergic to rice (from elimination process). This was discovered after having several strong topical steriods, as well as an oral steriod, a few antihistamines, a topical antibiotic, 2 rounds of oral antibiotics and a referral to a Dermatologist (who recommended bleach baths 4 times a week along w/strong topical steriods). Despite all that, he continued to have open, weeping sores on his arms that had to be bandaged twice a day and continued to scratch until he bled while in the bath. To make a long story short, after we got the allergy test results, I've had him on Similac Alimentum formula as a supplement to the little solid foods that he can have (mainly applesauce, peaches, pears, squash, carrots but sometimes broccoli and chicken) and he's been doing so well. I was worried that he would lack the nutrition that he requires at his age but he never misses a beat and always keeps me on my toes. I've learned that often times when they're allergic to cow's milk, they're also allergic to soy. Also, I apply Eucerin cream on them from head to toe twice a day to keep the skin moist and bathe my youngest one (he has the worst allergies) w/Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser every night before bedtime. And now, my boys only need a little of their topical steriod cream maybe once or twice a week. My youngest one repeated his blood allergy test just recently and now he can have rice and corn. I will have him do the skin allergy test (which is more accurate than the blood test) when he's older and can tolerate it. I hope giving you my experience can give you some ideas on helping that little boy. It's wonderful that you care so much. Good luck!

I am not sure what you all had tested for in the alergy test, but my friend thought it was cows milk that her son was allergic to, so she put him on soy as well per Doctors request, then found out he was allergic to soy milk too. They did no milk until he was 3 years old and got all of the allergy tests done. Turns out he was allergic to Soy (as they suspected) and Egg whites. Thats it!!! He had really bad dry skin (they thought it was exzema too, and was on all of the perscription creams every on the market) Needless to say at just over 3 now his skin is soft as a babies butt and he is back on cows milk. Maybe they can do more allergy test to confirm everything.

Be very careful with nuts as there has been a link to severe peanut allergies later in life and soy. You and his parents will also need to read your labels diligently on packaged and processed foods because a lot of them contain soy (my mother is allergic to soy and it shocked me to see so many things you wouldn't expect soy to be an ingredient in).
My kids have no known food allergies (although I suspect my son has some mild ones because he has had eczema off and on since he was a baby) but I make them smoothies all the time. My daughter especially loves them, my son does sometimes as long as he doesn't see me making them :)
You can make him smoothies (blended well with ice in a blender) with fresh fruits, calcium fortified orange juice and you can even add raw veggies to it (again blended well)

Some calcium rich foods that are not linked to soy and milk...
Salmon
Rhubarb
Sardines
Collard greens
Spinach
Turnip greens
Okra
Peas, White beans, Baked beans (are all legumes like soy so check first...)
Broccoli
Brussel sprouts
Sesame seeds
Bok choy
Almonds
And you can also look for calcium fortified products like cereals and breads.
Also if you're just looking for beverage alternatives carrot juice is great, tomato juice, V-8. (my son can't get enough V-8!)

I am really surprised about the rice milk diagnosis--is he really allergic to rice, or some other ingredient in rice milk? VERY few people are allergic to rice--that's why rice cereal is often the first food. And did they actually test for goat's milk or just suggest that he might be allergic? I have a friend with a son who has at least 10 fatal food allergies (wheat, oats, barley, eggs, dairy, peanuts, etc) and they have never tested this kid for goat milk. I would get all the details from the allergist. Why not have him drink calcium fortified OJ? I have a friend whose son wouldn't drink any cow's milk so he drank a lot of OJ with calcium.

On the goat thing. . .make sure he has been tested and then maybe if he is a negative then try goat's milk yogurt. Also--was he tested for almonds? Because they make almond milk. Not sure how much calcium is in it but might be worth a shot if he is not allergic.

hi,
I have a cousin that went from soy to almond milk, maybe that is an option? I hope things get better for the little guy. It may not work, but it is an idea.
C.

/

Hi M.,

The parents can talk to his doctor have Neo Cate, which does not have those allergens in it. Also, please, please, please pass on to his parents that Elidel and Protopic are believed to be carcinogenic and have been black box labeled. OTC cortisone, vaseline petroleum jelly and Eucerin worked great for us. Also, now that summer is coming, they might want to try the pool - the chlorine is actually helpful for eczema - as odd as it sounds. We kept our daughter out of the pool for the first few years of life because of her eczema but then started hearing from people that being in the pool helped them so we tried it and it was true for our daughter too.

Good luck,

K.
mommywood.com

Just a suggestion, but has he been checked to see if he's allergic to animals as well? You mentioned that you have 2 dogs and a cat. Cat dander can be a massive allergen.

Have they taken the little boy to a dermatologist? I didn't see your other postings however my child was diagnosed with icthiosis at age four. She is now 17 however she still does n't have smoth skin and it irritates easily. Just a suggestion that it may not be allergy related.

I have a integrative medicine practice and have many patients that present with this identical issue. I also have eczema that flares up when I eat certain foods. Its unlikely that a 15 month old has an allergy to rice. If he tested positive for it, it is a delayed food sensitivity or IgE reaction. Most likely it stems from a "leaky gut". I prescribe Omega 3 and omega 6 oil to reduce inflammation and heal the skin. It will also help the baby's brain development and most patients that have chronic inflammation tend to be depleted in their essential fatty acids. Send the mom to www.functionalmedicine.org to find a practitioner in her area that can help her to heal her baby's gut. That is the root of the eczema problem. And definately add the oils, it will make a BIG difference.

If this child's parents would switch over all their household cleaning products to ones that were less toxic, they would find some relief for their son, if not entire relieft. Most detergents on the market are filled with fillers and only a little soap. In fact, most powder detergents have fiber glass in them (shocking, I know). Even if they are using Dreft, this is not a safer alternative, especially because he would come into contact with their clothing. I am with a ocmpany that makes safer products and many, many people, have found relief from skin conditions and many other problems like allergies and asthma. If you want, pass along my website info. I don't sell anything, but if they wanted more information about the product, they could request.

www.livetotalwellness.com/adorzab

Hope this helps!

A.

If he's not allergic to nuts there is Almond milk out there too. I feel very bad for your little guy. If it's lactose that he's allergic to there is also Kefir, which is made from yogurt and it comes in different flavors. You could also give him tea that does not contain caffeine, with the amount of allergies he has I would stay away from any of them that fall in the ragweed family.
At his age I woudln't impose a detox system on him. Just give him lots of water. His liver will cleanse itself. Make sure to use diluted juices because otherwise he runs a higher risk of developing diabetes.

M.,

What about Almond milk?

I saw that someone else had mentioned neocate, which is an amino acid diet. This is the most pure an un allergic nutrition you can come by, but is very expensive. You can sonetimes fing splash or neocate junior on ebay, so have the parents check that out, or see if their insurance will cover a script for it. Also, a suggestion is Hemp milk. it is very nutritionally whole and hemp is usually a good choice for protien intolerant people, but my son could not handle it so maybe try, but IDK. You can buy Hemp milk at most any health food store, or make your own with bulk hemp seed also from health food store. at any rate, a great alternative for calcium is always O.J. Good luck to you, the parents, and the child. I know the rashes can get very tough as we have been dealing with all of this for 2yrs. now.
**also** my son is only bathed about one time every 2weeks or so, and it is a very quick luke warm bath with aveeno baby. other than this he gets his hands, face, neck, feet and privates washed daily with water only. We use clariten rather than Benadryl due to it beening less harmful as a daily medicine. At that age I think he was probably taking about 3/4 t. at night. We opted out of skin tests for the simple fact that my sons skin has never really been irritant free enough to get a good reading, however the test is usually effective after 12mo.

Hello,
try almond and coconut milk, available at Wholefoods Markets or any healthfood store, they are fortified and a good alternative to dairy, you can also make your own, a friend of mine only gives this to her kids and she makes it herself from raw almonds. also if you do juices do vegetables mixed with fruit, and dilluted with some water so the child doesnt get too much sugar in his diet.I would recommend getting a good juicer, I have a Hamilton Beach one, it's great, I make all my own juices for my 18 month old, carrot and apple is her favorite, dilluted of course.

I too am a day care provide, for me 11 years and one of my 5
year olds has had exzama since he was about 3 months old. Try tea Tree oil you can get it at a health food store. my family uses it for a lot of things, we get ours and henry's. J. L

I am a pranic healer and deal alot with this. There are a couple things you can do. There is an oil called Palmarosa, it is a pure essential oil, I carry it at my home office and I am sure you can also find it at Mothers or another health store. it calmes the skin for allergies and irritations,. i would also suggest that the parents seek some kind of homeopathic/holistic approach to getting help. I live in costa mesa. Please feel free to call me and if the parents are interested, it normally only takes 1 visit for allergies. ###-###-#### home office

Can he have nuts? With all the allergies, I'd be causes about it, but you could try Almond Milk. TJ's (Trader Joes) sells it in plain, vanilla and chocolate. I was actually going to coment before I'd finished reading your post that there was a good chance of soy allergy if he had dairy allergy. Soy protein is almost identical to dairy protein. That is why in many cases it is a good alternative to LACTOSE intillerance, BUT if it is a dairy PROTEIN allergy, you will still react.

I would also would give him plenty of avocados and bananas. They are both nutrient rich and nurish the skin. Avocado without the chips we love to dip them in is actually one of the healthiest foods there is. Their fats are the type that help metabolize our stored fats; but~ miz them with the bad fats while eating them, and the good fats are bonded to the bad and both are stored.

This website has foods to eat on a "Low Allergin Diet" http://www.pccnaturalmarkets.com/health/1292009/

Hope it helps! Allergies are MISERABLE! My nephew is DEATHLY allergic to peas, peanuts, and soy, painfully allergic to dairy, and mildly allergic to tomatoes, strawberries, and wheat. I am allergic to artificial colors (migraines) and dairy (lactose). NEVER EVER FUN!

Be cautious with citrus (orange juice) and strawberries until his skin is better, then re-introduce to see if there is reaction. I know a dermatologist who always removes those along with dairy and gluten containing grains, and often soy. You said he can have water and juices, as long as he is getting calcium and other mineral and vitamin supplementation, he should be OK. The thing is, his little body needs to heal. He may tolerate certain allergens later that he can not handle now. His immune system is just on overload. The rice allergy is tough. Check out a book called "Breaking the Vicious Cycle" by Elaine Gottschall

M.,

My 18 month old is allergic to dairy and soy. The proteins are really similar so it isn't unusual for someone who is allergic to one to be allergic to the other. My son also reacts to goats milk. He can drink rice milk because it isn't actually a milk, it is basically a juice, but I don't give much of it because it has no nutritional value and is really constipating. When I quit nursing, we switched to hypoallergenic formula as a source of protein, fat, calories, and calcium (what kids typically get from milk). My son is currently drinking Similac Alimentum and he is doing fine on it. You can get it in the grocery store or you can order it online - I get it here by the case http://www.i-medica.com/index.php?target=products&pro... and save about $7 a can by doing that. Over the course of a month, ordering it here saves me $100 or more over buying it in the store. If this boy is too sensitive for Alimentum, there is a "more" hypoallergenic formula. There are two brands: Neocate and Elecare. Both are special order. You can get it from a pharmacy or order it on-line (just google Neocate and you'll find it).

After you eliminate the allergens, it takes about a month for them to leave the system entirely and then it will take time for the skin to heal also. I use the Equate (Walmart) version of Cetaphil lotion and it works really well. Even as careful as I am with my son's diet, he's in daycare and occasionally eats something he shouldn't. When his skin breaks out, I use this lotion and it works really well. It is very soothing, doesn't burn when you put it on and really helps (I also break out in the dry, scaley patches so I speak from first hand experience here).

In my experience, pediatricians are a horrible source of info on food allergies in kids. My pediatric GI doctor wasn't really very helpful either. Food allergies can change over time and the allergy testing is pretty unreliable in babies. So the parents should watch the diet of the child and adjust it as necessary. My son went through a period where he couldn't tolerate eggs either but fortunately he outgrew that. You can find better info on the internet and from other parents than you can from doctors. It is almost like they don't believe in food allergies in babies. As the parent of a food-allergic baby, I can tell you they do exist and they are serious and can be very, very miserable.

If you or the parents need more info or just want sympathy, my email address is ____@____.com I have some helpful resources if you are interested.

T.

I agree with the others, find out if he is allergic to nuts and then try the almond milk. But also go to a vitamin store like Bob's and ask them what supplements that you can give him or go to Lassens and ask them. They also have books. Are the parents concerned? You are a great caretaker. Don't give up on him. Blessings

Have you tried raw milk (unpasteurized cow's milk)? Many people who are allergic to pasteurized milk are not to raw milk. We all drink it, including my 2-year-old,and everybody loves it. It's more nutritionally beneficial than pasteurized milk. You can buy it at Whole Foods, Erewhon or many Farmer's Markets.

There is also an option of almond milk and other milk made out of presoaked raw seeds. You can even make them yourself.
Good luck.
L. Nerus LAc, DOM

We never did cows milk, soy milk, etc.. after the kids stopped breastfeeding around 2 years old. There are many other ways to get calcium. Yogurt, cheese, salmon, leafy greens, almonds (is he allergic to almond milk?), google Vegan sources of calcium or the likes and you should find a good list. My kids now drink soy milk and cows milk on occasion but they get most of their calcium from other sources.

Hope this little guy is feeling better soon!
M.