Does anyone have expereince with multiple dietary protein imbalance in an infant? We have a client in our program who has a 9 month old (d.o.b. 2/19/95) daughter diagnosed with this condition. She has been exclusively breastfed since birth and has developed well. She weighs about 17.5 pounds (.5 pound gain in past month), is otherwise healthy, happy, and developmentally on target. Her pediatrician has said she will not be able to get all she needs from breastmilk from now on and that she should be supplemented with abm. Mom tried regular formulas and baby was miserable. She was then told to use alimentin (sp.). Baby was also miserable when taking it--cried like in pain, restless, generally unhappy with interrupted sleep--would wake every hour, crying. When mom stopped the abm, baby went back to her old self--happy, calm, sleeps well, etc. Doctor does not believe baby is reacting to abm. Wants mom to continue. Dr. also said that breast milk is no longer a complete food beyond nine months. The mother would like to continue breastfeeding as long as possible and discontinue abm. I have no experience with this condition and would appreciate any input. They're talking about a feeding tube if baby really can't tolerate abm. What advantage does abm have over breast milk at this point?? I have personally known allergic babies (and some without obvious allergies) who were on breast milk alone for up to 18 months with no ill effects. However, since I am unfamiliar with this protein intolerance, I don't feel I can advise her. Should she consult a nutritionist? Any ideas, input, experiences would be appreciated. Ruth DeRosa, IBCLC BabyBEST Program Frederick Memorial Hospital Maryland ========================================================================== Anthony M. DeRosa Tony DeRosa Thomas S. Wootton High School 628 Biggs Avenue 2100 Wootton Parkway Frederick, MD 21702 Rockville, MD 20850 (301) 663-0273 (301) 279-8587 [log in to unmask] ==========================================================================