Wheezing

Wheezing, or noisy breathing, is a high-pitched, whistling sound, which happens when the small airways become narrow, making it difficult for a baby to breathe. It is a common problem in babies, and in general, babies and children wheeze more than adults because of differences in the size of their airways.

Wheezing
& CMPA

Why is my baby wheezing?

Your baby may be wheezing due to a food allergy, e.g. Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy (CMPA), or other allergies such as to dust or pollen. Almost 30% of babies with CMPA will have respiratory symptoms, including wheezing.

Could it be Cow’s Milk Protein Allergy?

Wheezing is a common symptom for babies with CMPA. However, babies with CMPA usually experience more than just one symptom and these symptoms can be very different from one baby to the next. Therefore it is always best to discuss it with your baby’s doctor/GP. They will look at the symptoms in detail and often use a symptom scoring system to decide if it is related to CMPA.

Keep a diary of when your baby feeds and of any symptoms that occur during or after feeding. Be sure to note down the time e.g., in minutes, hours or days, and when the symptom/s happened.

If your baby is breastfed, then mum should also record everything she is eating and drinking, as well as timings of symptoms after feeding. It’s a good idea to keep this diary for at least 1 week before seeing your doctor/GP.

What to Do Next?

If you are worried that your baby has symptoms related to cow's milk, you should seek advice from your doctor/GP. Whilst you are preparing to visit your doctor/GP, it can be a good idea to record your baby's symptoms over a few days.