How to Feed a Lactose-Intolerant Baby

Lactose intolerance is the inability to produce sufficient amounts of lactase, which is the enzyme required to digest lactose, the sugar found in cow's milk and other dairy products. This leads to undigested lactose remaining in the intestine, which can cause discomfort. According the award-winning pregnancy and parenting website Baby Center, between 30 and 50 million people in the United States are lactose intolerant, but it is very rare for a baby to be. If you do think your infant is lactose intolerant, the first thing you need to do is consult a pediatrician.

Things You'll Need

  • Lactose-free infant formula

Instructions

    • 1

      Look for signs of lactose intolerance in your baby. For an infant to be born lactose intolerant, both parents would have had to pass the gene causing lactose intolerance to him. Severe diarrhea after a feeding of breast milk or cow's milk formula may indicate lactose intolerance. Other symptoms include bloating, abdominal cramps and gas 30 minutes to two hours after drinking breast milk or cow's milk formula.

    • 2

      Take advice from your pediatrician, who is likely to recommend eliminating all sources of lactose from your infant's diet for at least two weeks. If her symptoms subside after this time, she may be diagnosed with lactose intolerance

    • 3

      Keep your baby's diet free from all dairy products if her pediatrician diagnoses her with lactose intolerance. Use a lactose-free infant formula. When it's time to introduce solid foods, be extremely vigilant about reading labels and checking ingredients. Many foods, including bread, breakfast cereal and lunch meat, contain milk products.

    • 4

      Be aware that some people who are lactose intolerant can digest small quantities of dairy products. When your baby is taking solid foods, introduce tiny amounts of dairy into her diet and watch how she reacts. The Baby Center site recommends giving dairy alongside non-dairy foods, as this may make it easier to digest.

    • 5

      Make sure your infant's diet includes enough calcium to keep her bones and teeth strong. Soy milk, broccoli, tofu, almonds, salmon and oranges are all good non-dairy sources of calcium, advise child development experts at the Kids Health website. Ensure she gets enough vitamins A and D, riboflavin and phosphorus. Look for lactose-free dairy products in your supermarket. Consult a dietician if you are concerned that she is not getting enough of the essential nutrients.

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