Interesting, noeljoy ?
I'm sure it will be helpful.
Good Morning Monday 22nd June 2026
My 3.5 month old grandson is breasted and has been struggling with his digestion. He has had green, frothy nappies from the time he had his first vaccines, more latterly yellowish but very full of mucus. My daughter cut out dairy products from her diet but is told by doctors etc that he must be allergic to cows milk even though she hasn’t eaten dairy in weeks. His weight gain is slow these days and he gets tired easily. Grabs, gave any if you any matching experience that may help? I’m quite concerned.
Interesting, noeljoy ?
I'm sure it will be helpful.
Hi! I'm a current breastfeeding mother, and I have been nursing for 4 years now (two children). It sounds like a foremilk/hindmilk imbalance to me. Too much of the foremilk can cause green frothy poops and doesn't help with weight gain. Here is an article but I strongly encourage her to find a lactation specialist.
kellymom.com/bf/got-milk/basics/foremilk-hindmilk/
My daughter-in-law told me about preparing baby formula incorrectly and how you must put the water in first before the powder. She has a friend who did it the other way and had multiple problems with the baby's bowels over a couple of months including frothy stools.
She happened to make up a bottle in front of someone who worked in a nursery and they explained about the need to be very accurate about proportions. Problem solved pretty much overnight.
This baby is breast fed though so not a solution in this case but I think it's still interesting.
Thanks to all wise contributing Grans. All very helpful.
Once the dairy has provoked the allergy, coming off dairy will only help a bit as the reaction has happened. So until the baby matures enough to digest it and it settles the nappies will remain green and frothy. Providing he is gaining weight (DD1 was also slow but steady) then he should be fine but yes go for a paediatrician appt as this was 37 years ago. DS and DD2 didn't have this but I had stayed off dairy.
DD1 had this and colic. I came off all dairy including anything with butter and milk. She was prescribed soya baby milk which she had when not BFing. She suddenly got better at 4 months and has had no problems with dairy since. Now 37. It was horrendous at the time and sore bottom too.
Not gaining much weight also depends on percentiles
Obviously not gaining so much weight is a worry. I don't want to imply I know more than the medics pigsmayfly, I'm just reporting what I came across.
Whatever the cause, it's tough for your daughter (and all who love her).
I hope it's resolved soon.
Thinking of you.
pigsmayfly I think it's definitely worth her asking for a proper test to find out for sure.
I did also read an article about how the various baby milk companies were cashing in on this too. But we shouldn't really blame the GPs for just following guidelines- after all, they can't be expected to be experts in everything.
I also recently heard something on the radio about this - maybe it was the BBC "Inside Science" programme. If uou google it you may find it.
Obviously every mum wants the very best for their baby and most would do anything to keep them safe.
NotSpaghetti Thank you for this interesting research which I have now read. There is nothing like ask a gran for experience and common sense. I will she this to my daughter. Thank you
This is from Bristol:
Guidelines may promote over-diagnosis of cow’s milk allergy in infants
www.bristol.ac.uk/primaryhealthcare/news/2021/guidelines-may-promote-over-diagnosis-of-cows-milk-allergy-in-infants.html#:~:text=International%20guidelines%20developed%20to%20help,Allergy%20today%20%5B8%20December%5D.
grannysyb
My stepdaughters baby was diagnosed, after much toing and frying with an allergy to her mothers milk!
Of course, there was no such thing 45 or so years ago!
My DC was much better after changing to formula.
Some babies need to be fed soya milk but please do urge your DD to seek further advice.
Not FP, GP. Sorry
Are you aware of this research?
It was a joint study by researchers at Imperial and Bristol.
I don't think it's had the coverage it deserves.
www.google.com/amp/s/www.imperial.ac.uk/news/196813/milk-allergy-guidelines-cause-overdiagnosis-babies/amp/
It seems this is not so likely as your FP thinks.
Please show the mum and suggest she insists on a proper diagnosis.
My stepdaughters baby was diagnosed, after much toing and frying with an allergy to her mothers milk!
Farmor15
My daughter has some kind of dairy intolerance and avoided dairy when pregnant and breastfeeding. However, if she inadvertently eats something with dairy in it, she feels it affects her baby- makes him uncomfortable and throw up a bit. But he gained weight fast and I don’t think he ever had nappies like you describe pigsmayfly.
As others have said, I think the baby needs to be seen by a specialist. I’m a bit dubious that mother’s diet could affect the baby so much.
A mothers diet can massively affect a babys health if the baby has CMPA ( cows milk protein allergy) ...the advice will be to cut all dairy from diet and take a calcium supplement if they wish to continue to breast feed
I have been told that gluten does not pass through into breast milk but I'm not at all convinced about that.
My baby didn't seem tired (quite the opposite in fact) but colic was a problem with bad nappy rash. If only I'd known then.
I would persist in trying to get a diagnosis asap.
Giving up dairy may not be enough- lots of products have hidden dairy in their composition
I should have said he’s seen a paediatrician who wouldn’t do allergy tests under 6 months, looked at nappy and said looks like cows milk allergy. Was hoping a gran may have met this kind of problem with perhaps an alternative outcome to consider.
The doctor does not inspire much confidence diagnosing an allergy w/o tests - even if it is in fact an allergy
My youngest had a blood test to diagnose possible allergies and there was an immediate improvement when I avoided those items
Allergies come also from combination of items, not from individual factors.
Pediatrician asap - obviousky
My daughter has some kind of dairy intolerance and avoided dairy when pregnant and breastfeeding. However, if she inadvertently eats something with dairy in it, she feels it affects her baby- makes him uncomfortable and throw up a bit. But he gained weight fast and I don’t think he ever had nappies like you describe pigsmayfly.
As others have said, I think the baby needs to be seen by a specialist. I’m a bit dubious that mother’s diet could affect the baby so much.
Back to the GP, with a sample nappy, weight chart, and dates that food was excluded from mum's diet.
If Health Visitor is involved, ask them to speak to GP.
I know what this sounds like, but can't possibly diagnose 3rd hand on a public forum!
I think you should see a paediatrician rather than going down the route of trying to self diagnose allergies. Particularly since his weight gain and energy levels are affected.
I really do think you should press for this.
Perhaps your daughter needs to cut out gluten too, or eggs? So many variables? It might not be an allergy just an intolerance which is just as horrid for the the poor child while not life threatening.
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