Babies, Parenting, Child Health, Infant Nutrition

Infant Development – Lactose Intolerance

10.23.2007 | 11:10:19 pm | Posted by mummums

By Colleen Hurley, RD, Certified Kid’s Nutrition Specialist

Invariably there will come a time when you need to wean your baby from the breast. This opens a whole new world of decisions in regards to infant nutrition and healthy development. Children do need either formula or breast milk for at least the first 12 months of life. If you cannot breastfeed, then what to do you do?

This brings up a rather big question for first time moms- do you give your baby cow’s milk? What about lactose intolerance or allergies? What is Lactose intolerance? When someone is lactose intolerant, they are deficient in the enzyme lactase, which is responsible for digesting lactose, the primary sugar in cow’s milk and most other dairy products.

Signs and Symptoms

It would be fairly obvious if your baby were born lactose intolerant. Even if you are nursing, your baby could still express symptoms, as there is lactose in breast milk. Without having enough lactase, all the undigested lactose remains in the intestines causing gas, bloating, and severe diarrhea. Your baby would be quite uncomfortable or “colicky” after meal times due to the discomfort.

Likelihood

It is very rare that babies are born lactose intolerant, they would have to have been passed down the gene from both parents. It is, however, more likely to occur in premature newborns because a baby’s amount of lactase increases during the third trimester of pregnancy. Lactose intolerance often shows up during your child’s grade school or teen years, but for some children symptoms may manifest as a toddler. A child’s amount of digestive enzymes peaks at around the age of 3 and ½, and then gradually declines. This is the reason most experts believe lactose intolerance does not show up until a little later in life.

What’s the cause?

Although exact causes are unknown, genetics certainly do play a role. Lactose intolerance is not uncommon; it affects about 30-50 million people in the United States. Interestingly, the largest populations affected are those in which cow’s milk was not native to their culture. About 90% of Asian Americans – and as many as 75% of African Americans, Hispanic American, and Native Americans are lactose intolerant.

Certain medications also reduce the amount of lactase produced. In addition, certain conditions of the intestines, such as celiac disease or crohn’s disease can cause secondary lactose intolerance.

Intolerance or allergy?

Some children, although not lactose intolerant, can be allergic to cow’s milk.

Lactose intolerance is a reaction to the sugar in milk, while an allergy is an immune response to the milk proteins.
Someallergy symptoms include:

Chronic earaches/pulling at ear
Skin rash
Respiratory responses such as asthma
Chronic stuffy nose
Dark under eye circles
Mood swings

There are some instances in which lactose intolerance can occur secondary to an allergy as www.kellymom.com reports:

“Although cow's milk protein sensitivity and lactose intolerance are not the same thing, they can sometimes occur at the same time, since food allergy can cause secondary lactose intolerance.”

How to Cope

If you suspect your baby is developing food allergies or may be lactose intolerant, it is important to keep a log of both foods eaten and symptoms that occur so you can get a better idea of the foods that may be causing recations. Also, see our previous post on Introducing Solid Foods for more information on how to avoid food allergies in infants.

The best way to alleviate lactose intolerance is to remove dairy from the diet. Dairy containing foods include:

Milk (whole, skim, 2%, dry, powdered, evaporated)
Cheese
Butter and many margarines
Cream
Whipped cream
Ice cream and some sherbets
Yogurt

There are also many hidden sources of dairy:

Breakfast or baby cereals containing milk solids
Biscuits, crackers, or breads made with milk
Pudding and cake mixes, including frostings
Waffles, pancakes, toaster pastries
Pizza
Milk chocolate
Artificial sweeteners containing lactose
Lunch meats, canned meats, sausage, and hot dogs
Canned soups
Foods containing whey, casein, sodium caseinate, or caseinate

Some people, children included, can digest partially digested lactose containing foods such as yogurt. It is important to monitor your baby closely and record any response to know for sure. The good news is many children outgrow allergies in adulthood.

What about my baby’s need for milk?

If your baby is lactose intolerant, there are several lactose-free formulas on the market. You can also visit: Tuberose.com for homemade, natural baby formula recipes developed by Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enig, PhD authors of Nourishing Traditions (an excellent resource).

If you suspect your baby may be lactose intolerant or experiencing allergic reactions, consult your physician right away.

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