ALLERGY\FEEDING YOUR BABY: FOR ALL BABIES WHO DO NOT YET TAKE SOLIDS
If your baby appears to react to milk (breast or bottle) and is not yet taking any solid foods, make absolutely sure that there is nothing else he or she is taking or absorbing that might be the cause. What else is your baby ingesting? Think of any juice, drinks, medicines, vitamin drops, toothpaste. What about any cream or oil that you use on your nipples if breastfeeding? Stop giving or using any of these, with doctor’s advice, and see if things improve.
If the parents, other members of the family or visitors smoke in the house, then stop, and wash and air the home well. Colic, for instance, has been linked to exposure to tobacco smoke. If the baby goes to a childminder, nursery or creche, where smoking is allowed, then take the child out of that environment for a while to see if things get better. Move the baby to another childcare place if necessary.
If you have any suspicion that the baby may be chemically sensitive, take care with chemicals used where the baby may take them in with the milk. Do not use chemical sterilising tablets for bottles – use a steam steriliser or boil all bottles and teats for 20 minutes. (Do this for bottles used for boiled water and for expressed breastmilk as well.) Try a teat made of different material – you can buy them made either of soft brown latex or of clear silicone. Some babies react to one type and not to another. Similarly with nipple shields, if you use them – try either latex or silicone, or do without them if you can.
Do not use creams, ointments or toiletries on your breasts or nipples if breastfeeding. Wash them just in water. If you get sore or cracked nipples, wiping them with a little expressed breast milk and leaving them to dry for some time in the open air is as effective as any other healing measure.
If the baby takes boiled water, try using filtered or bottled water (Evian, Buxton or Malvern for preference) as this can help. The chlorine and other chemical traces in tapwater can upset some babies. Boil and prepare whatever water you use with the usual hygiene precautions.
If you are taking drugs while breastfeeding, check with your doctor whether you could discontinue these.
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