Hi Catrina,

First of all, I think this is a wonderful project that you are assigned.
Not all babies are perfect little bundles that eat, sleep, poop and play on
schedule.  Babies, themselves, are difficult.  An atypical baby can be
really trying on the parent.

You should know that in the early stages of infancy, unless your baby is
anaphylactic to dairy, it is hard to diagnose and parents go through a great
deal of trouble trying to figure out "what's wrong" with their baby.
Allergic babies cry often, they are usually in a great deal of intestinal
pain, they arch and cringe and sleep is hit and miss.  Parents are sleep
deprived, worried, stressed and often anxious.  Allergic babies may display
symptoms like rashes (anywhere on the body), bottoms can become
blistered/bloody, sinus and upper respiratory problems are also common.
Runny noses, ear infection, throat infections, gas/bloating... all of these
symptoms are typical and may seem never ending in an allergic child.

So, to start, I'd figure in the extra cost of extra doctor visits for
sickness as well.  On the average at least 1 extra visit per month.  Then
add the cost of prescriptions for antibiotics or antihistamines, again about
1 prescription a month with the average of about $30 per prescription.  Then
there are the additional over the counter drugs you may dose your child with
to keep them comfortable.  Gas drops about $15/mo, diaper rash ointment
about $10/mo, etc.

If you are nursing, you can simply avoid dairy in your own diet.  The cost
for this is really pretty minimal because you just avoid most dairy products
and eat differently.  You can substitute soy/rice/almond milk in your diet
and cooking and purchase dairy free products for not much more.  If your
baby is taking formula, the average cost of a can of formula is $10.  Some
dairy allergic babies can tolerate Nutramagen which is actually made with
dairy protein, but it's broken down to the point that it is tolerable by
some.  It costs about $20/can.  You are better off substituting soy formula
which cost the same as regular infant formula.  However, if your child is
dairy allergic, the chances of developing a soy allergy as well are
increased.  Some parents opt to go all out and purchase a totally
hypo-allergenic formula called Neocate that costs about $50/can.  My first
son took formula (Nutramagen) and he went through about an average of 2-3
cans per week.  So you can do the math!  You will average about 10-12 cans
per month.

Of course, you will also have to figure in the cost of possibly seeing a
specialist (allergist) for evaluation and testing.  Figure in costs for
office visits and lab fees.  If a child develops asthma that is allergy
related (like mine did) it may require special equipment like a nebulizer as
well as associated medications.

Because of the chronic throat infections that my son suffered, he ended up
having a tonsillectomy/adenoidectomy.  Add about $1000 for that.  Many
children have chronic ear infections and usually get tubes put in their
ears.  I have no idea what the cost of that would be since my son didn't get
ear infections, but I'm sure it's probably similar.

If you're really wanting to figure costs, if you are a working parent, you
have to figure in time loss from work if your child is often ill.  Some
daycare providers require extra payment for special needs children.

To top it all off... figure in the cost of psychiatric counseling and
anti-depressants for the over-stressed parents of a dairy allergic child.
LOL!

Gail Fritz

----- Original Message -----
From: "Catrina Vickery" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, December 05, 2001 2:44 PM
Subject: (no subject)


> For school, I have a project where i have to pretend that I have a baby
for 6
> weeks.  Each of us in the class are assigned an accident and my baby's
> problem is that she is allergic to milk.  I am supposed to find out
> alternatives to milk and what it will cost me.  Can anyone help me?
>
> Thank You,
> Catrina
>