I feel cruel. I don't want to give my 7 month old food.

[iiTTCii]

My LO has eczema and has done since being a newborn. She has patches that flare up on her back, chest and feet. Prior to weaning, her face has only flared up twice, the last time being Christmas.

We started weaning a few days before she turned 6 months (blw) and is great with food. She chews it and swallows it and will give anything a go.
We noticed after a few days of weaning her face was really flared up but put it down to eczema, but a week later it was still flared. We went to the doctors and they didn't do anything. I started doing a food diary and noticed that it really flared up whenever she had wheat (bagels, rice cakes, breadsticks etc). We went back to the doctors and they said it will be a food intolerance and not an allergy as if it was allergy she would have difficulty breathing etc and that we should give her wheat every few days so she gets used to it.
We kept her off wheat for a few days but her face still flared up with everything else we have her, although not as bad. I didn't give her food for 3 days last week and her face completely cleared up... I gave her a breadstick and her face was a mess. Her face goes blotchy and bright red up to her eyes and down her neck, it looks chapped and sore and this happens within minutes of eating. I cry every time as it looks so angry.
I don't know what to do. I feel cruel for not giving her food but don't want her to have permanent red sores all over her face and neck.

 

[lhancock90]

You need a referral to start with lovely. They need to stop brushing you off. Secondly you may find that its the food around her face causing the problem, Ivys face reacts tomatoes terribly and i was advised to avoid them but obviously you cant avoid all food, so you need a referral to see if they can stop this for you
I hope you get some answers hun. I'd feel the way you do!

xx

 

[jd83]

There are many people who have eczema and food intolerances that flare it up. You may want to do some research on what types of foods generally cause flare ups and work from there. I know there are some BnB members on here who have mentioned it before in having to restrict some things from their own diets due to it flaring up their eczema, so hopefully they will see your post too and comment.

I'm sorry you're dealing with this, as it has to be very frustrating trying to figure out weaning when it seems like it just makes her miserable! HUGS!

 

[carbafe]

How long was her skin bad before the 3 day break. It might just be a case of to me. Could you try just one non wheat food for a few days and see if she adjusts and just work slowly ? I would also wash her face with plain water and moisturise with a bland moisturiser as soon as she finishes. My oldest had very bad eczema and even now any little knock or rub turns his face red. It could be the food and saliva on her skin as well. My LO also had a reaction to lentils and we used piriton syrup for children to calm the reaction.

 

[kbwebb]

Lucy is the same in regards to eczema on her face. It flares up over any dairy, but it will flare up over any type of food if it's sitting on her face a long time. For example if she has sauces on food or crumbs around her face it will get very red. That's prevented by wiping it away often, but wipes will do the same as the food and make it red so you could use cotton wool. Just a suggestion. You need to ask for a referral too, Lucy had cheese once and looked like she had chicken pox her rash was all over. They said it was just eczema but intolerances and allergies are linked to eczema.

 

[iiTTCii]

How long was her skin bad before the 3 day break. It might just be a case of to me. Could you try just one non wheat food for a few days and see if she adjusts and just work slowly ? I would also wash her face with plain water and moisturise with a bland moisturiser as soon as she finishes. My oldest had very bad eczema and even now any little knock or rub turns his face red. It could be the food and saliva on her skin as well. My LO also had a reaction to lentils and we used piriton syrup for children to calm the reaction.

I've tried everything cream wise. We given 0.5% hydrocortisone for her face but that didn't clear it. I always cream after washing her face after eating. I've tried putting nappy cream on her face to act as a bit of a barrier when she's eating. I just feel at a loss.

 

[megrenade]

I didn't really start feeding DS meals until he was over a year old and he's always been in the 90th+ percentile for his size.

If you don't think she's ready for food, wait. It's not cruel!

Dairy is REALLY bad for eczema.. or anything processed, really. Soy, wheat, shellfish, tomatoes, and yeast too.

Good luck

Skin health is best treated from the inside out.

https://www.homemade-baby-food-recipes.com/eczema-and-baby-food.html

 

[Blah11]

Id introduce one food at a time. Start with non processed stuff like fruit n veg and take itfrom there.

 

[familygirl30]

My boys face started flaring up around his mouth not long aft I started weaning,we were backwards and forwards to my gp trying different creams but nothing worked,they said was a very rare type of eczema caused by herpes virus,after researching this on internet I knew it wasn't!we got referred to a dermatologist and they said was food allergy,I had a feeling was banana so I've stopped and his skin seems better

 

[Dolly84]

Yeah I have eczema and have had it since birth, my main allergies are wheat, dairy, egg whites, food colourings, and anything citrus. It took my mum ages for the drs to get me an allergy test but finally got one. It's trial an error to see hat foods trigger my flare ups. So if your lo can't be tested yet, it's best to start with 1 food for a few days and asses if it's having an effect. Hopefully there will be a variety of foods that will be ok, good luck x

 

[megrenade]

A food diary will really help too

 

[fieryphoenix]

If its just wheat that causes flareups, I wouldn't give her wheat, its not really necessary anyways my lo was gluten free until 9months.

 

[Mummy Bean]

My doc said he wouldnt do an intolerance teat until 2yrs old as there bodies can change so much in that time.

Which strangly Parkers did. at first all sorts of food set his off...where now it seems to just be the heat/sweating and products.

Maybe just try stick with fruit/veg and only introduce a new thing once every 2 days so you can keep track of what affects her and what doesnt.