Lactose intolerance is a common problem among babies and young children. If your baby seems to be experiencing digestive issues such as gas, diarrhea, or stomach pain after drinking milk or eating dairy products, they might have lactose intolerance.
There are a few signs you can look out for that indicate that your baby has lactose intolerance. In this article, we will discuss what those signs are and how you can manage your baby’s lactose intolerance.
Table of Contents
1. Vomiting and Nausea
One of the most common signs of lactose intolerance in babies is vomiting and nausea because of a reaction to dairy products. If your baby has been vomiting or experiencing nausea after drinking milk or eating dairy products, it may be a sign that they are intolerant to lactose. This can happen if their digestive system is unable to break down and digest the lactose in these foods, causing irritation and inflammation of the stomach.
2. Bloating and Flatulence
Another common sign of lactose intolerance is bloating and flatulence. If your baby’s stomach seems to be distended or they are passing a lot of gas, is possible that they are not able to digest the lactose in milk properly.
3. Diarrhea and Stomach Pain
Your baby may experience diarrhea, stomach cramps, or pain because lactose intolerance leads to an imbalance in the gut microflora.
4. Frequent Crying and Fussiness
Babies who are intolerant to lactose may also be more fussy and cry more frequently than usual. This is because the discomfort from their digestive issues can be very painful.
5. Loose Stools
If your baby has loose, watery stools that seem to be more frequent than usual, they may be lactose intolerant. This is because the undigested lactose in their stool can cause diarrhea and other digestive problems.
6. Failure to Settle at Feeding Times
If your baby is having difficulty settling down to feed or is not feeding as well as they usually do, it may be a sign of lactose intolerance. This is because the discomfort from their digestive issues can make it difficult for them to concentrate on feeding.
7. Skin Reactions
Some babies may also experience skin reactions such as hives or rashes after drinking milk or eating dairy products. This is because their bodies are not able to tolerate the high levels of lactose in these foods, leading to inflammation and other skin issues.
Final Thought
If you notice that your baby has these symptoms, it’s important to speak with a doctor or pediatrician to confirm the diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.
There are a few things you can do to manage your baby’s lactose intolerance. The first step is to eliminate or limit the amount of milk and dairy products in your baby’s diet. Some babies with lactose intolerance may do well on a soy-based milk, so you may want to consider switching to soy milk instead of regular milk.
