Help For My Best Friend's Son

[blandino]

My best friend has a 15 month old who as an infant was a horrible spit-up'er. I mean it was just awful, we all waited for that magic 9/10 month point where most kids stop and he never did. He was on breast milk until 7 months & milk based formula after 7 months. He didn't display any symptoms of reflux, other than spitting up - but he wasn't in pain/coughing/ etc. They tried a reflux med - but it didn't help that much so she discontinued because she didn't want him on unnecessary meds.

After 12 months she tried cows milk, and because the frequency was less - he did spit up LESS, but still would spit up. She has tried soy, goats, and now coconut. All of which he spits up. The coconut makes him spit up the least, so that's what he does now - but it can still all come back up at any moment.

The doctor said to try goats milk again, but she really doesn't want to because, honestly, the smell of the spit-up was horrible. And if he is going to do it, it might as well be as pleasant as possible.

He was a preemie, 33 weeks, 4.1 pounds, 17 days in NICU - but has never had any issues or delays.

Any thoughts... 1...2...3...go

[Unregistered]

Almond milk!! It has worked great with all my dck that have had reflux issues.

Has he been tested for pyloric stenosis? That could also be a possibility.

[Sunchimes]

I have a dcb, 20 months old. He spit up endlessly. At 15 months, his doctor casually said they might try soy. We did that for about 6 weeks. It didn't really help much. He joined the ECI program in early June. The first thing the therapist suggested was taking him off of all dairy except almond milk. I guess there are theories that dairy exacerbates SPD. So we did. It has certainly complicated my life--we like cheese, mac and cheese, yogurt, etc around here. But, I've stuck to it and within a week, the spitting up stopped. He hasn't spit up since June.

[blandino]

I have a dcb, 20 months old. He spit up endlessly. At 15 months, his doctor casually said they might try soy. We did that for about 6 weeks. It didn't really help much. He joined the ECI program in early June. The first thing the therapist suggested was taking him off of all dairy except almond milk. I guess there are theories that dairy exacerbates SPD. So we did. It has certainly complicated my life--we like cheese, mac and cheese, yogurt, etc around here. But, I've stuck to it and within a week, the spitting up stopped. He hasn't spit up since June.

See his mom is a registered dietician, and wants to avoid soy at all costs. And I think her hesitation with almond milk is because the protein is lower. But since both of you mentioned it, I will pass it on.

The weird thing is, no other dairy bothers him. Yogurt, cheese, other dairy don't bother him a bit.

[Unregistered]

See his mom is a registered dietician, and wants to avoid soy at all costs. And I think her hesitation with almond milk is because the protein is lower. But since both of you mentioned it, I will pass it on.

The weird thing is, no other dairy bothers him. Yogurt, cheese, other dairy don't bother him a bit.

Same here! It was only milk! Diary products wasn't an issue. Switched to almond milk and it has been a miracle on multiple occasions!

[SilverSabre25]

I think further testing would be in order at this point. Does he spit up water? Or juice? Throw up food? If any of those then I'd say it sounds like a physical issue, not a dietary one.

If NOT any of those...then I'd try eliminating ALL dairy, even casein, from his diet for at least six weeks and look for improvement. Or if mom wants, allergy testing first. But it's not presenting like an allergy, it's more like intolerance if anything.

I'm lactose intolerant (it's worst when I've been eating gluten. Stupid gluten. Stupid genetic modification of the wheat plant) and milk or ice cream bother me the most. I usually don't notice much with cheese or butter or anything else...but milk or ice cream are awful.

[SilverSabre25]

btw...how are things on his "other" end?

[blandino]

btw...how are things on his "other" end?

Frequent BMs, and easy rashes. But not too horrific. Maybe 3 BMs a day.

[blandino]

I think further testing would be in order at this point. Does he spit up water? Or juice? Throw up food? If any of those then I'd say it sounds like a physical issue, not a dietary one.

If NOT any of those...then I'd try eliminating ALL dairy, even casein, from his diet for at least six weeks and look for improvement. Or if mom wants, allergy testing first. But it's not presenting like an allergy, it's more like intolerance if anything.

I'm lactose intolerant (it's worst when I've been eating gluten. Stupid gluten. Stupid genetic modification of the wheat plant) and milk or ice cream bother me the most. I usually don't notice much with cheese or butter or anything else...but milk or ice cream are awful.

It's so funny you say that because as an older infant he had reactions to gluten, so we kept him away from it. And a few weeks ago his mom was saying that she thought maybe it was certain types of gluten, causing a reaction because some he handles fine and some get a reaction. If we follow your line of thinking it could be certain combinations of gluten & dairy.

No real issues with throwing up food. Unless it happens to come out with/in the milk.

[Sunchimes]

Mine was spitting up everything-juice, dairy, carrots, bits of paper he scavenged on the floor, everything. All we eliminated was dairy and he's been fine. We just make sure that we monitor his entire diet, and he's thriving so far.

We were also hesitant to use soy with a boy. We were relieved to move on to almond milk.

[SilverSabre25]

It's so funny you say that because as an older infant he had reactions to gluten, so we kept him away from it. And a few weeks ago his mom was saying that she thought maybe it was certain types of gluten, causing a reaction because some he handles fine and some get a reaction. If we follow your line of thinking it could be certain combinations of gluten & dairy.

No real issues with throwing up food. Unless it happens to come out with/in the milk.

Hmm....I was wondering about a gluten connection. See, the gluten and dairy proteins are similar enough that if a person is gluten intolerant, that leads to lactose intolerance. As a gluten intolerant person, the lactose intolerance is markedly worse when I am eating gluten in large quantities (and have a lot of gut damage from it), and when I'm faithfully gluten free, lactose barely bothers me at all. For years before I figured out the gluten intolerance, lactose was my worst enemy. ESPECIALLY straight up milk. And certain combinations of dairy and wheat were horrific for me--pancakes and milk, or cinnamon rolls and milk. Pancakes and eggs for some reason, too.

Unfortunately, since it's probably not Celiac, there's no test but a 100% gluten free diet. All traces, all "natural flavorings" and "artificial flavorings" and "caramel color", etc. It might take gluten AND dairy free to see improvement, since the gut damage is probably pretty high.