Little guy is doing well. The zyrtec has really seemed to help him. His skin is clearing up nicely. We've had to switch his cereal because Gerber rice cereal has soy in it. His mom found one that doesn't. She also switched his formula, but she can't find one without soy and he doesn't like what she switched him to. She's afraid she'll have to stop nursing all together (she does about 1/2 breast milk, 1/2 formula) because she thinks he reacts to things she eats. I was mistaken in my original post. He IS allergic to wheat (along with dogs, cats, soy, peanuts and almonds for those that missed the first post or didn't remember). The three things he isn't allergic to are milk, rice and eggs. Mom's getting really discouraged. She called me last night and said she's afraid she may have to find somewhere else for little guy because she doesn't know if having him somewhere that she KNOWS he has an allergy is the best thing for him. She doesn't want to move him and after a lot of thought I really don't want him to go. There are a lot of issues with him, but he's grown on me and he is getting easier. He's not as fussy anymore and not spitting up nearly as much, probably from his change in diet (and mom has stopped eating nuts, but she's having a hard time cutting wheat from her diet--it's everywhere!). I told her that whatever she decides is okay, this is about her little guy and what's best for him. She doesn't want him in a center at this point. She really wants him in a small environment with a small group. So we'll see what she decides. I'm closed tomorrow and he's going to my back up provider's house, which happens to be my old house! Mom and baby went over there last night and she thinks there must still be pet dander there from the four years we lived there because she started getting all stuffed up (she's allergic to cats, too) and she said little guy's face started getting rashy when they got home. But then she thought maybe it wasn't my back up's house but something else. I feel for her because I know she's stressing big time. I'm not nearly as stressed about all this as I was. She did ask me what I'd do if it were my child and I couldn't answer because I really don't know. If I had a provider that I loved and that loved my child I wouldn't want to move him either, but like she said, knowing he's allergic to something at that person's house would be a problem for me. *sigh* She sees the allergist again on the 13th. Hopefully she'll have more answers then.

By Bemerry84 on Thursday, October 5, 2006 - 11:02 am:

Poor little guy. His mom will have to do what she thinks is best. I wouldn't want a center either, they seem so cold to me and around here the employees change constantly. My daycare is a home also with a huge black dog (newfie) and several cats and they are right downstairs with the kids all the time, I couldn't imagine it any other way but we don't have allergies. We've been with this person for 14 years and when my kids would ask if we could get a dog or cat I always responded what for you have them all day and don't have the mess to clean up. I hope you get to keep him he sounds like a little sweetie, maybe it is just everything she's eating and not so much the cats.

By Vicki on Thursday, October 5, 2006 - 01:17 pm:

I don't know how to word this that it doesn't sound bad, so I am just going to spit it out. LOL To be completely honest, I can't believe this is even a choice for her?? Don't get me wrong, I totally get that she loves you and your care and all of that, but he has an allergy for goodness sake!! The poor thing has to be miserable!!