Is it possible to be allergic to milk-based formula but not be allergic to milk?  See, while Liam developed some scary looking hives after we first gave him milk based Enfamil formula back when he was 10 months old, he never showed that reaction before (or since).  And we’ve been known to give him cheese or tastes of ice cream (both before and since).  This last week, we decided to test this all out, in a controlled environment.  He had some cheese.  No reaction.  He had some yogurt.  No reaction.  We gave him both lowfat and whole milk.  No reaction.  We mixed the whole milk with soy formula.  He’s just dandy.  So am I to assume from this that he isn’t allergic to milk after all?

Is it possible he could be allergic to just formula or even just Enfamil formula?  That it wasn’t the milk at all?  Because that would make a lot of things a lot easier.

Now, he has a really bad diaper rash this week, but I don’t think that’s because of the increase in cow’s milk in his diet.  He had the rash before we started our “experiments” and it has only worsened when he’s been left in a dirty diaper for any amount of time (such as when he goes overnight and doesn’t get changed until he wakes up in the morning).  Plus, he’s teething.  We can see on his gums where they’re red and swollen.  He’s been drooling up a storm and has had a couple of low-grade teething-style fevers.

But not a single hive is to be found.  He wasn’t too sure of the milk at first but he seems to have warmed up to it and the transition has been smooth.  We’re still mixing the formula with the milk (because, why not?) for most of his feedings.  We haven’t had any fussiness or crankiness.  There is some diarrhea, but again, I think that’s due mostly to the teething since it’s exactly what he did when he was teething several months ago.

So what do ya’ll think?