Talking to a Healthcare Professional
Be prepared for discussions with a healthcare professional with details of your little one's symptoms, family history of allergies and questions to ask.
It's important to have accurate information available so that the healthcare professional can decide what the best course of action is for your baby.
Things to think about beforehand
- Is there a family history? Does anyone else in your family have a food allergy, hay fever, asthma or eczema?
- Is there a pattern in your baby's symptoms? Are they worse at certain times of day or do they coincide with certain foods or any changes in the environment or feeding habits?
- How severe are the symptoms, how quickly do they develop, how long do they last and how often do they occur? Do the same reactions happen each time a particular food is eaten?
Write down relevant information
It's a good idea to keep a log of your baby's feeding schedule and any symptoms they have so you don't forget. This can help your doctor evaluate whether there is a link between consuming cow's milk and your baby's symptoms. We have prepared a blank feeding and symptoms diary that you can download and fill in. The allergy test is also a useful tool to help you collate important information to discuss with a healthcare professional.
Questions you might like to ask
- What could be causing my baby's symptoms?
- Is it possible that my baby has a food allergy like cow's milk allergy?
- Do we need to do any allergy tests?
- Is it possible my baby is allergic to several things?
- If tests will be done, how long will it take to get the results?
- How is cow's milk allergy managed?
- What dietary changes are required for a baby with cow's milk allergy?
- Do I need to make any changes to my own diet if I'm breastfeeding my baby?
- Do I need to switch my baby's routine formula?
- How soon after making dietary changes would you expect to see changes in a baby's allergic manifestations?
- Does my baby need to see a specialist?
- If it is cow's milk allergy, will my baby always have it?
- If it is cow's milk allergy, when would my baby be able to tolerate milk again?
- Could cow's milk allergy affect a baby's growth?
The tools and tips on this site are designed to help you get the most from your time with a healthcare professional. Although this site is full of information to help you understand and recognize cow's milk allergy, it is not a substitute for medical advice. You should always speak to a healthcare professional.
