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Child Behavior (Expert Forum)
Cerebral Allergy?
This forum is for questions and support regarding child behavior issues such: Child Discipline (behavior management), Normal Child Development, Parent-Child Communications, Social Development
Cerebral Allergy?
by Helen Warner, Jan 25, 2000 12:00AM
My daughter, Kaylie, was born July 28 1999. She was breastfed until she was 5wks during which time she was always fussy and aways seemed ravenously hungry. She would feed for 2-3 hours and 30 minutes later be hungry again. One day at 5 wks I decided to give her a bottle to see how much she was really drinking. She ate 5oz of Enfamil and then continued to eat 5oz every 2-3 hrs. During this time I consulted with the La Leche league and my Family Nurse. They said feed her on demand, she's just going through an extended growth spurt. For about a week after I switched to bottle feeding, things got better, Kaylie seemed content for the first time and even began to smile. Then she started to get really fussy again, she cried just about every waking moment. At feedings, she drank about 1/4 to 1 oz of formula and then started screaming and refused the nipple every time it was offered. Then 10 minutes later, her cry would change and I would know she was ready to eat again. At times it seemed as if she were not getting enough oxygen while sucking and would have to rest for a few minutes. She also displayed some bizarre behavior. She often would not eat unless she was in the exact position she wanted to be in and if I talked to her or stroked her arm or tapped the bottle or any other little interuption, it would send her into a screaming fit. She also arched her back and pushed away when my husband and I tried to hold her. She hardly ever showed interest in us, our daughter, her toys, or her surroundings, and she stopped smiling. I asked the Dr.s about her fussiness and they all said it wasn't an allergy or she would be vomiting or have mucous in her stool. They said she was colicky or just that my first baby was good and I wasn't used to having a fussy baby. I was sure and still am that there was SOMETHING VERY WRONG. Kaylie is quite hefty for her age and everybody said she's gaining weight well so she must be healthy. By the time she was 4 months I was in Family advocacy counseling because I was angry and felt I was not bonding at all with Kaylie. At 41/2 months (Dec 16) I switched Kaylie to Similac because that was all that was offered by the WIC program. On Christmas day Kaylie became a different baby. She drank all of her bottles straight down with no fuss, she wanted to snuggle and smiled at everyone. In fact she smiled that one day more than all the times in her life. She seemed interested in everything and slept through the night for the first time. This lasted for a week. Then on Jan 2nd I gave her some left over Enfamil. Kaylie drank 6oz, and by the end of the day she was back to her old self again. It was then that I realized that Enfamil had been causing all her problems. It took until Jan 13th for her to completely recover from the effects of that one bottle. Now she is happy again and even making an effort to roll over (something she had not even tried up to now) I am concerned that whatever gave her problems in the Enfamil will give herproblems again when she starts on solid food. I was begining to think she was going to be Autistic or something but I have read a small amount lately on cerebral allergies and wondered if they could be the cause for her behavior. Where do I go from here? I have tried to research the web but cannot understand the chemistry etc. that most articles talk about.
Doctor's Answer
by HVM M.D. - EV, Jan 26, 2000 12:00AM
Dear Ms. Warner-
I have to say that I am not familiar with the term "cerebral allergies" - so I cannot respond to that part of your question.
However, I am struck by what you so clearly describe as a difference in behavior when Kaylie is fed Similac vs. Enfamil. Perhaps a subtle difference between the two is responsible for her behavior - in which case I would continue her on the Similac only. It may be worth while to compare all the ingredients of the two formulae. With regard to solid foods - I would suggest that you expand her diet very slowly, starting with rice cereal - then adding new foods one at a time every 4-5 days. Follow along with her doctor and watch for any reactions. She may have a sensitivity to certain food ingredients which you may have to follow over time - but probably not.
With regard to the question raised about colic - I am often suspicious about gastroesophageal reflux (acid regurgitation) in infants who are fussy around feeds. If her fussiness recurs - consider discussing with your doctor this notion of reflux - which could be giving Kaylie heartburn symptoms/pain. If she remains comfortable - then this is of no concern.
In the end - I would watch what she eats - and keep in touch with her doctor. And as long as her weight gain is good and her development is normal, the likelihood of a serious problem is very low.
Good luck - sounds like you're doing a very good job.
Dr. EV.
I have to say that I am not familiar with the term "cerebral allergies" - so I cannot respond to that part of your question.
However, I am struck by what you so clearly describe as a difference in behavior when Kaylie is fed Similac vs. Enfamil. Perhaps a subtle difference between the two is responsible for her behavior - in which case I would continue her on the Similac only. It may be worth while to compare all the ingredients of the two formulae. With regard to solid foods - I would suggest that you expand her diet very slowly, starting with rice cereal - then adding new foods one at a time every 4-5 days. Follow along with her doctor and watch for any reactions. She may have a sensitivity to certain food ingredients which you may have to follow over time - but probably not.
With regard to the question raised about colic - I am often suspicious about gastroesophageal reflux (acid regurgitation) in infants who are fussy around feeds. If her fussiness recurs - consider discussing with your doctor this notion of reflux - which could be giving Kaylie heartburn symptoms/pain. If she remains comfortable - then this is of no concern.
In the end - I would watch what she eats - and keep in touch with her doctor. And as long as her weight gain is good and her development is normal, the likelihood of a serious problem is very low.
Good luck - sounds like you're doing a very good job.
Dr. EV.
Member Comments (2)
by lori, Feb 17, 2000 12:00AM
What you talk about describes my daughter to a T! She was very dificult as an infant. She had the same problems eating. She had an upper GI done at about 3 months of age because of her dificulty drinking. It showed a little reflux but nothing that should cause the kind of seemingly discomfort she was experiencing. She was put on Soy formula and medication which didn't seem to make a big difference. From the beginning she seemed very distant. She was always expressionless. It was always so hard to make her even smile. I always senced that something was not right but everyone kept telling me not to compare and every baby developes diferently. She didn't start solids until almost 2 years of age. She didn't walk until 18 months. By age three she had about 20 single words in her vocabulary and could not feed herself. I too was a first time mom and didn't think too much of it. Now she is 4 and is going through a lot of testing to hopefully come up with a diagnosis. We too thought autism. She has so many signs. Definately persue your gut instinct. I wish I had got help for my daughter sooner. She is now in a program to help her with Speech, OT and PT but I dont know if she will be able to be in a regular kindergarden class next year because we waited to long for help.
