Breast milk is the most suitable food for babies. However, there are times when a woman, for one reason or another, cannot breastfeed. Then you have to use adapted formulas for baby food. But what if the baby is allergic to them?
Allergy to the mixture
Sometimes an artificial baby has allergic reactions to formula milk. It can manifest itself in the form of hives, vomiting, diarrhea, cough, rhinitis, or bloating. In such cases, on the advice of a pediatrician, it is necessary to transfer the baby to a hypoallergenic mixture. Sometimes the baby is fed with a similar diet for preventive purposes, if the parents are severely allergic.
The most allergenic component of infant formula is cow's milk protein or egg white. Gluten can also cause unwanted reactions.
Hypoallergenic mixture
The main difference between the hypoallergenic mixture and the usual one is that the cow's milk protein in it is in a state split into amino acids.
In stores, you can find a hypoallergenic mixture created on the basis of cow's milk or on the basis of soy protein. Soy mixtures are indispensable for babies who are highly allergic to cow protein. In cases where the allergy is mild, it may be sufficient to transfer the child to a formula containing hydrolyzed cow's milk protein. It is not such a strong allergen and is much easier for the body to absorb.
Hypoallergenic mixtures do not contain another component that often causes allergies in babies - gluten. It is a vegetable protein.
The selection of baby food for an infant suffering from eating disorders is the task of the pediatrician and allergist. Self-administration of the mixture by parents can only aggravate the situation and cause an even stronger reaction in the crumbs. The children's doctor, on the basis of his observations and stories of the doctor, and in some cases with the help of tests for allergens, determines which therapeutic mixture is needed for each particular child.
Hypoallergenic mixtures are divided into two large groups. The first is prophylactic baby food, which is used to feed infants at risk. These are those children whose parents or older siblings are allergic. Also, similar mixtures are shown to babies who have a mild allergic reaction to adapted baby food.
The second group is hypoallergenic medicinal mixtures. They are specially designed for children with severe to moderate food allergies.
Food allergy is currently one of the most common diseases in young children. Therefore, be sure to monitor the reaction of the crumbs to food and, if in doubt, do not delay a visit to the doctor.
