There is no doubt that breastfeeding is the best diet for infants. This is a natural food, in which there are many valuable properties. In addition, breast milk is the most effective way to protect your child from allergies.
Unfortunately, an allergy to cow's milk in infants is common. And not only in the case of artificial feeding, but even with breastfeeding - if the mother uses dairy products. In this case, mothers should adhere to a special diet.
Lactation
If your family has cases of allergy to cow's milk, then for the prevention should reduce the use of dairy products. If the baby's allergy to cow's milk has already been confirmed, you must remove all dairy products from your diet. Including cheese, yogurt, kefir, sour cream, butter and so on. When a nursing mother uses a large number of dairy products, cow's milk proteins can enter the baby's stomach along with breast milk. And cause an allergic reaction.
Artificial feeding
To my deep regret, many mothers can not breastfeed for various reasons. In this case it is necessary to use milk formula for baby food. If the baby is healthy and there are no cases of allergy to cow's milk in your family, you can feed the baby with a normal infant formula. Its base is cow's milk, but all fractions (proteins, fats and carbohydrates) are changed for better assimilation. Such milk is most accessible, but at the same time contains the necessary quantity of nutritious elements.
However, if there is an allergy to cow's milk from the parents or the siblings of the child, giving him the modified cow's milk is too risky. It is recommended to immediately transfer the child to a mixture that prevents the development of allergies. Pediatricians recommend hypoallergenic infant formula, in which the milk protein is hydrolyzed, that is, it breaks up into smaller particles. Such mixtures are quite expensive, but are the only possible variant of feeding babies.
When the risk of developing allergies in children is high, and when it is already manifested, it is necessary to translate into special high-hydrolysis mixtures. Such "milk", as a rule, is very well tolerated by children. However, to improve the health of the child sometimes have to wait up to several weeks.
In the case of very severe allergies and other dairy components, the doctor may recommend a drug in which, in addition to the milk protein, the composition of fats and carbohydrates is also changed. Even if the child already has symptoms of malnutrition. Unfortunately, some children are prone to hyperalergy to cow's milk protein. In this case, even if they drink highly hydrolysed mixtures - a skin rash, diarrhea or infections persist. The doctor may decide to give your child a milk formula in which the milk protein is broken down into elementary structures. Namely - amino acids.
It is important!
The stronger the milk is subjected to hydrolysis, the lower its sensitizing properties. Unfortunately, the taste of the mixtures changes. Babies quickly get used to it. But older children and elderly people (who are also sometimes advised to use such mixtures) are hard at getting used to an unusual taste. Over time, the doctor, in the absence of allergic reactions, may recommend adding less hydrolysis mixtures, soy milk. And as the body grows older - even cow.
Parents often worry that a child with artificial feeding may not have enough minerals or vitamins. However, the composition of milk formulas is designed in such a way that even with insufficient nutrition, the baby's body receives the recommended doses of vitamins and minerals. The problem can arise if the baby completely lacks appetite and it is much malnourished. In this case, additional doses of calcium and vitamin-mineral preparations will be needed. Of course, this can only be prescribed by the attending physician.
If, as the child grows up, you want to introduce lure from cow's milk - you should start with very small portions. The baby's body does not yet produce enough enzymes necessary for digestion. Too fast introduction of large portions of cow's milk, which the child has never drunk, can cause problems with the stomach. It can be severe abdominal pain and diarrhea - even if the baby is sleeping. But small portions of cow's milk (in the absence of allergies!) Will accustom the body to the production of digestive enzymes and prepare for self-feeding.
To avoid allergies to cow's milk in infants, you need to closely monitor his state of health and adhere to the principle of gradualness. You should also consider the reaction to the dairy products of all family members. Perhaps there is a genetic predisposition to allergies.