I need help so badly!!! Please!

[Sunshine_Kenya]

I need some help. My son is almost 2 years old. He started getting itchy on his chest and tummy when he was about 1 year old. It comes and goes. It's not visible unless you look very close and then you see tiny, tiny little bumps. It is scaly to the touch kind of. He broke out in hives around his face, when I gave him eggs when he was about 16 months old. He accidentally got them from someone else, again, at about 18 months. Same thing, hives around his mouth. As soon as I wiped his mouth off real well though, they'd go away. I haven't tried giving him eggs since. He seems ok when he has them in baked goods though.

Now, starting about 2 months ago, he started getting eczema on the inside of his elbows and behind his knees. His torso is still that dry, sometimes itchy, tiny bump thing. What bothers him though most, is the elbow and knee areas. Especially at night time. It just appears to be a tiny, tiny bit dry (like his torso, the teeny tiny bumps) normally. Then sometimes it will get really itchy and as soon as he itches it, it turns in to what looks like hives. They will spread if I don't stop the itching for him.

I cut out dairy from his diet a little over a week ago and the mild eczema and the hives, didn't appear again. Yesterday though, the neighbor dog licked his chest and he broke out realy badly in hives. I had to give him Benadryl, as it was bad. Then today, I gave him some breakfast sausage. He broke in hives all over his chest and a couple on his mouth area. Eggs, cheese (wondering if it's all dairy, not sure yet), sausage, hot dogs, curious about tomatoes too and dog kisses, all make him very itchy and hivey/rashey).

I am wondering if I should get him tested by am allergy specialist? How do they do it exactly? Is he old enough? Please share what you know on this. Is it accurate?

This is really getting me down. I hate seeing him all covered in hives so often. I just feel so sad for him. Hives also scare me, especially when on his face. I know much worse things could be wrong with him, but to me, it's big.

So, my issue is, what to feed him! He is soooo picky already and now can't have anything with cheese (if I am correct), which is most things he loves. Also dairy is in so many things and eggs. He won't eat any veggies, unless blended in things or corn. Ugh! He doesn't like much fruit right now. Will only eat apple, grapes, pineapple in SMALL quantities. He's just going through an extremely picky stage right now. I am SO thankful he is still breastfeeding alot! I feel like it's what is sustaining him. He likes bread (which I make), muffins, banana bread, pasta (not sure what kind of sauce to put on it. Most have milk or cheese)...ya you see the problem. He's a carb addict. He doesn't like potatoes. Rice is iffy. He won't really eat sandwiches. I bought almond butter and he turned his nose up. He will eat cereal with almond milk on it. I bought tofu cheese that he will eat little bits of on stuff. He'll drink smoothies sometimes, but not alot of it. Maybe 1/2 cup. I bought soy yogurt and he hated it. He will nibble on trail mix and whole wheat crackers.

I so need help. This sucks and I am starting to feel like the world's worst mother, because all I ever wanted for my kid's was to grow up happy and healthy. :'( I am going to buy the book "How to Cook for Food Allergies", from Amazon.ca, as I seen it recommended here. Is it a good book?

I need help learning how to substitute dairy, cheese, eggs...in recipes. I cook dinner for our whole family and need to know how to do this. I can't really see any kind of substitute for cheese, tasting the same in recipes. I bought soy cheese and it was horrific tasting!!!! Can I use almond milk, in substitute for cow milk, in baking and cooking recipes? Ugh...I am so lost! I just want to cry!!!!!!!!!!! If he were not still breastfeeding alot, I would be a walking mess.

Please help me. Thank you in advance!!

[noababy]

I can't help thatmuch, but do take everything in stride. Everyone has some issues with their kids.

Try goat milk products-kids that are allergic to milk can usually tolerate those. My sister uses almond products instead of milk products for her kids who are allergic.

I would speak to your doctor about a referral to an allergist.

I also personally would highly recommend a naturopath. They are very succesful in cases involving skin conditions that regular medicine does not help. (I have seen many instances of success). The naturopath will give a specific diet and will help you figure out what foods are right for your child.

Welcome!

[Sunshine_Kenya]

Thank you so much Susie! I have thought of taking him to a Naturopath but I wasn't sure which would be more beneficial. A Naturopath or an allergist? Both test for allergies, right? I just am not sure which would be better for my son.

I am using Almond milk for him now, on his cereal in the morning. He quite likes it. Can you use it in recipes, too?

[noababy]

I personally would say naturopath but that's just me.

I assume the milk is fine in recipes!

[Sunshine_Kenya]

Thanks for your opinion. I am a very crunchy mama and am really in to natural living. So the naturopath route has sounded right to me all along. However, I don't know of anyone who has gone this route, over a allergist specialist and I just want answers. Of course, I have to pay for any naturopath care and the specialist would be free, so that stinks. I just want what is best for my boy.

I forgot to ask in my original post. Can an allergy turn from something like getting hives, to an anaphylactic (sp?) shock reaction? I am terrified of that!

[sarahdavid]

I'd take him to your GP and request allergy tests if I were you.

Also, in responce to your question about pasta sauces, you could do a veg sauce, I do this all the time, you can blend it all up so he doesnt know he's eating veg, and make it with sweet veg like carrot, butternut squash, etc to make it more platable if he doesnt like veg.

Hope you manage to get to the bottom of it x

[Sunshine_Kenya]

I made an appt. with my doctor for June 30th and then he will give me the referral to see an allergist. After I do that, if I don't feel good, I will take him to a naturopath.

Thanks for the suggestion Sarahdavid! Sounds great! So what do you use to make it runnier though? Water? I am not positive but I am wondering if he is allergic to tomatoes, too. So, trying to not give him any tomato sauce etc. I'd love to hear your recipe!

[rachaelmae]

Good luck with the GP

I would just keep offering him fruit/veg and hide what you can in his meals, i think they all go through phases of being fussy, i try to not make a big deal of it and dont offer alternative foods.

Sorry no advice about the allergies.

welcome to the site

[sarahdavid]

Originally Posted by Sunshine_Kenya

I made an appt. with my doctor for June 30th and then he will give me the referral to see an allergist. After I do that, if I don't feel good, I will take him to a naturopath.

Thanks for the suggestion Sarahdavid! Sounds great! So what do you use to make it runnier though? Water? I am not positive but I am wondering if he is allergic to tomatoes, too. So, trying to not give him any tomato sauce etc. I'd love to hear your recipe!

To be honest I usually just chuck in whatever I have in the fridge, varies each time I make it but ingredients I have used before are courgette, peppers, swt potato, bnut squash, onion, garlic, (tomato), carrot, parsnip etc ect, I add veg or chicken stock and then blend, just add the liquid till you have the consistency you want.
I have in the past added red lentils too, also makes a nice soup.

Do you have any of AK books? She has a hidden veg sauce, have a browse in the recipe sections on the ak site.

Goodluck with the docs x

[jules06]

I would start to do a food diary and write down any reactions and how long they took to show and how long they lasted for.

I am a bit confused on this bit

"Same thing, hives around his mouth. As soon as I wiped his mouth off real well though, they'd go away. I haven't tried giving him eggs since. He seems ok when he has them in baked goods though "

If it was an allergic reaction wiping his face would not make them go away.

Similarly with a reaction to a food such as eggs, he would either show a reaction to them or not it would not really make any difference if they were baked with something else.


If you find that your child is allergic to a particular food, they are more likely to have allergies to foods in the same family. For example, if your child is allergic to a type of fruit for example a citrus fruit, he may be more likely to be allergic to other fruits in the same group (but not always!)

Children with excema can be prone to some food sensitivity but this is a small number and only makes the symptoms worse, it does not cause the eczema.

Eczema - Triggers and Irritants

This has a good section that explains how food can be a trigger factor.

There is a good section on AK site about allergies you might want to read, but my advise is a food diary until you see your gp.

Yes you can substitute soy milk/ almond milk in cooking.

Hope you get answers form your gp.