Too much milk causing coughing and interrupted sleep?

smurray · #1 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 03:11 PM

Hey there,

This question is sort of related to feeding, and also sleep and health so I'm not sure where it should go.

Basically, DD (20 months) is not sleeping so well lately. I think it might be partly caused by her waking up to cough. She seems to have had a slight cough at night for months now. I have taken her to several GPs, and they have all found that her chest is clear, and that there is nothing wrong except a cold. I keep waiting for the cough to disappear but it hasn't yet.

Anyway, DD drinks a fair amount of cow's milk, probably 3 or so bottles a day. Yesterday, instead of giving her milk, I gave her water in the afternoon and evening. Then, last night she didn't cough at all and didn't wake once.

So my question is: could milk be causing her to be mucus-y (is that a word?)?

smurray · #2 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 03:28 PM

I should clarify I'm talking about cow's milk. She's almost weaned, I only BF now before bed.

Also that I give her milk because she loves it and asks for it. We are semi-vegetarian (eat fish), but she doesn't like fish much. She's not very keen on meat or chicken either, which we sometimes make just for her. At the moment the milk is a good source of protein.

Amanda.R · #3 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 06:09 PM

Yes it could be the milk. Everyone in my family ends up with coughs and congested if they have too much dairy (i can get away with it in tea and coffee, but if I drink it its almost instant). I don't give it to my 3 year old for this reason, but I breast fed till he was 3 so didn't really have the need.
He does drink rice, soy and goats milk which don't seem to effect him the same but if he has a lot of the soy and goat he gets a bit congested too, so I water them down with half hot water.
It might be worth avoiding the dairy for a bit to see if it makes a difference.

Marmee · #4 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 06:51 PM

I definitely agree - try completely removing dairy from your little ones' diet for a few weeks - note any changes and take it from there.

Dairy and I, esp cows milk, don't agree - and it's the mucousy coughs and asthma that it induces.

emd · #5 (**permalink**) 31-08-2008, 11:26 PM

Yep, I had a childhood dairy intolerance that I've since outgrown, but find that it doesn't help to drink milk after a tummy bug or when I've got a cold. Definitely lay off the dairy til she's recovered from the cold, then see what happens if you reintroduce it slowly I think.

smurray · #6 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 09:16 AM

Thanks everyone,

I think I will do that. We just had a second night of great sleep, no coughing after not giving her dairy yesterday.

I have another question - how do I replace the protein if she's not drinking milk and won't eat meat/fish ? Just give her lots of beans and lentils?

emd · #7 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 12:17 PM

Yep, we like beans, lentils and chick peas. Mushrooms are good. Sometimes they can tolerate a bit of natural yoghurt even if they don't drink milk, and it has the added benefit of cultures that help balance their gut. Nuts are good too - try cooking with nut oil, adding crushed nuts to foods etc. Tahini (sesame seed paste) is also good - add a spoonful to pasta sauces etc for a protein boost. If you eat eggs, they're a great protein source too.

smurray · #8 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 01:01 PM

We just got back from the osteopath. I made the appointment last week before I thought of trying no dairy. The first thing he suggested was cutting out cows milk. He also suggested that, if we did give it to her occasionally, to try A2 milk as it is from different cows and tends to have much fewer allergens.

Also he came up with another good food idea since she won't eat meat - to try making a really rich stock with meat or fish then cooking rice noodles in it. She loves noodles so it shoudl work, I think.

I wish I had thought to try this before - i feel a bit silly that it took so many months to occur to me that the milk might be the problem.

emd · #9 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 04:32 PM

Perfectly normal. Cow's milk is such an intrinsically accepted part of most people's diet that we don't often think of it as a potential trigger for these things.

Marmee · #10 (**permalink**) 01-09-2008, 06:41 PM

I agree with Emma - you could try yoghurt or cheese if you are worried - it can be quite different to milk. I can tolerate more cheese then milk, for example (still not good with yoghurt, though).

Like your stock idea. Also go the beans, make lots of bean dips (we love these - use them as a spread on crackers, on toast, on sandwich with salad etc), eggs??