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Do you suspect that your baby may be allergic to proteins in cow’s milk?

Cow’s milk protein allergy (CMPA), also known as cow’s milk allergy (CMA), is one of the most common food allergies in babies and young children. The symptoms can be distressing, but CMPA can be easily managed with the correct diet, so getting a diagnosis is very important. The good news is that the vast majority of children who are allergic to cow’s milk will outgrow this by the time they are 3 years old.

This website has been designed to support you and answer your questions throughout the process of diagnosis and management.

What is CMPA?

 

CMPA is a food allergy where your baby’s immune system reacts abnormally to proteins in cow’s milk. In rare cases, even babies who are exclusively breastfed can develop CMPA by reacting to the cow’s milk protein that is transferred through the breast milk. 



About CMPA

Recognize signs and symptoms of CMPA

CMPA is a food allergy and symptoms may affect not only the digestive system (for example, diarrhea or vomiting), but also the respiratory system (such as a runny nose or cough) and the skin (for example, dry and scaly skin).

Learn more about the signs and symptoms of CMPA

Symptom checker

How to obtain a diagnosis of CMPA

To establish if your baby has CMPA, your doctor will examine your baby and ask about any symptoms you might have noticed. If CMPA is suspected, your doctor can also perform specific tests to help make a diagnosis.

Learn more about how CMPA is diagnosed

Symptom Diary
How will CMPA affect your baby’s feeding?
Breastfeeding and CMPA Once diagnosed, cow’s milk allergy symptoms can be easily managed. With the correct support, feeding your baby will be as smooth and enjoyable as for any parent.

Your doctor will advise you on how to improve your baby’s symptoms and eliminate cow’s milk protein from your baby’s diet. This should in no way affect your breastfeeding routine. In the rare cases where babies develop CMPA in response to cow’s milk protein in breast milk, your doctor will help you make sure you exclude cow’s milk protein from your diet (for example, milk solids, cream, yogurt, and cheese).

Breastfeeding is the best way of feeding your baby during the first months of life and is preferred whenever possible. It is also the preferred choice of feeding for a baby with CMPA.

Complementary feeding and supplementary foods that contain cow’s milk protein (or any other unmodified animal milk proteins) should be avoided. Your doctor will help you identify suitable alternatives.

The length of time that you will need to manage your baby’s diet will depend on the age of your baby and how serious their immune reaction was. Most babies will have developed a tolerance to cow’s milk proteins by the age of 3 years.

Feeding and CMPA

You are not alone: discover the stories from other parents

We understand that you may be worried, but rest assured, there are solutions for every baby with CMPA. And no matter how lonely you may feel, you are not alone. We are here to help and support you and your baby. Discover other parents’ stories in these videos.


CMPA stories
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Mothers should be encouraged to continue breastfeeding even when their babies have cow’s milk protein allergy. This usually requires qualified dietary counseling to completely exclude all sources of cow’s milk protein from the mothers’ diet. If a decision to use a special formula intended for infants is taken, it is important to follow the instructions on the label. Unboiled water, unboiled bottles or incorrect dilution can make babies ill. Incorrect storage, handling, preparation and feeding can eventually lead to adverse effects on the health of babies. Formula for special medical purposes intended for infants must be used under medical supervision.

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