Introduction to Lactose IntoleranceYour baby’s digestive system develops rapidly over their first few weeks. It’s no surprise that wind, hiccups, and poo can take up most of your day. As a new parent, it can be hard to work out what’s normal and what’s not. Although it’s relatively uncommon, some babies are lactose intolerant. In this article, we will look at what lactose intolerance is, the different types of lactose intolerance in babies, the signs of lactose intolerance, diagnosis, how to care for your baby with lactose intolerance and when to seek help. Show
What are the different types of lactose intolerance?There are different types of baby lactose intolerance: Primary lactose intolerance:This means your baby has low levels of the digestive enzyme lactase3. It’s rarely seen in children younger than three3. Primary lactose intolerance is sometimes seen in certain ethnic groups (e.g., people of Asian or African-Caribbean descent)3. Secondary lactose intolerance:This means your baby isn’t producing enough lactase due to damage to the cells in their gut. It’s usually temporary and caused by a stomach virus such as norovirus3. It tends to improve once the lining of the gut heals4. Congenital lactose intolerance:This means your baby doesn’t produce any lactase from birth, however it’s very rare3. Symptoms develop as soon as your baby is given breastmilk or infant formula4. Developmental lactose intolerance:If your baby was premature (born earlier than 34 weeks' gestation), their gut lining may be under-developed3. This could mean that they’re not able to produce enough lactase3. It usually disappears as your baby gets older and their digestive system matures3. What are the common lactose intolerance baby symptoms?Symptoms of lactose intolerance in babies often overlap with other conditions such as cow’s milk protein allergy, meaning it’s sometimes hard to differentiate. Symptoms tend to occur within a few hours of feeding1. Here are some common signs of lactose intolerance in babies:
If you think your baby has lactose intolerance, it’s important to visit your GP who can help with a diagnosis. How is lactose intolerance diagnosed?When lactose intolerance is suspected, you may be advised to look out for symptoms after your baby eats lactose1. Your GP may ask you questions such as ‘what are the symptoms? How severe are they? When do they start and how long for?’ It can be helpful to keep a diary of symptoms to bring to the appointment with you. Your GP might ask you to take a sample of your baby’s poo (known as a reducing sugar test). This can help to detect if your baby isn’t absorbing lactose. However, the test isn’t recommended in children older than 2 years of age due to a high rate of false-negative results1,3. If your GP thinks your baby has lactose intolerance and you’re using infant formula, they may ask you to trial a lactose-free infant formula2,5. Food for lactose intolerance in babiesIf you’re breastfeeding, continue to offer regular feeds as this will help to heal their gut5. Despite what you may have heard, you don’t need to follow a lactose-free diet as research has shown that this doesn’t change the amount of lactose in your breastmilk5. Although you may wish to try giving your baby lactase enzyme drops, which can be bought from a pharmacy2,5. If your baby is formula-fed, you may wish to try a lactose-free formula, but only do so on the advice of a healthcare professional, such as your GP, health visitor or public health nurse. Try to reintroduce your baby’s usual formula within eight weeks, once your baby’s gut has healed1,4. If your baby has started solids, avoid offering foods containing lactose (e.g. cow’s milk, yoghurt, cheese) to allow their gut to heal3,4. But make sure you reintroduce these foods back into your baby’s diet once their symptoms have improved, as they contain calcium, which is an important nutrient for helping build strong bones and teeth2. Most babies with lactose intolerance will be able to tolerate a certain amount of lactose, it might just take some experimenting to find out how much2. If your baby’s symptoms don’t get better or you’re worried that your baby may have primary lactose intolerance, visit your GP for further assessment. Your GP may refer you to a dietitian for nutritional advice. How do you test a newborn for lactose intolerance?How can I tell? One way to check if your child has trouble digesting lactose is to take all the milk products out of your child's diet for two weeks and to then see if his or her symptoms improve. After two weeks, slowly reintroduce the products in small amounts each day to see if symptoms return.
What are the symptoms of lactose intolerance in babies?Diarrhoea can be a symptom of lactose intolerance in babies.. pain and swelling in the tummy.. failure to settle at feeding times, coming on and off the breast.. failure to gain weight.. diarrhoea.. bulky, frothy and watery faeces.. red bottom with skin worn away in places.. passing wind and crying when passing faeces.. irritability.. What does lactose intolerance baby poop look like?Your baby's stools may be loose and watery. They may also appear bulky or frothy. They can even be acidic, which means you may notice diaper rash from your baby's skin becoming irritated.
How do I know if my newborn has a milk intolerance?skin reactions – such as a red itchy rash or swelling of the lips, face and around the eyes. digestive problems – such as stomach ache, vomiting, colic, diarrhoea or constipation. hay fever-like symptoms – such as a runny or blocked nose. eczema that does not improve with treatment.
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How can you tell if your newborn is lactose intolerant
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