Baby with Dairy or Soy Sensitivity

My 10 week old baby has been fussy since birth. Our doctor says she has reflux and a cow's milk allergy, so she's being treated for both; anti-reflux medication, and I'm off all dairy. She's still fussy. She still spits up a lot, has diarrhea, and red, watery, puffy eyes. I'm wondering if it could be the soy in my diet she's reacting to? Or could it be something else I'm eating? How do I figure this out?!

First, be sure that your diet is truly dairy-free. This means reading all food labels. Dairy can masquerade in cookies, bread, and snack foods as "casein", "milk-solids"or "whey". It is possible that even small amounts of dairy additives can cause your sensitive baby to react.

Many babies who are intolerant or allergic to cows milk protein also react to soy products. So, it may help to eliminate soy products from your diet for a few weeks. After a few weeks evaluate how these changes in your diet are effecting your baby. These changes in your diet are difficult to make!

Good for you for trying! Remember, most babies outgrow these types of sensitivities.

Stacy Rubin is a nurse and lactation consultant in Hartford, Connecticut. She is also the author of the ABC's of Breastfeeding: Everything a Mom Needs to Know for a Happy Nursing Experience.