Lactose intolerance is rare in children, since a baby is usually born with the ability to digest the lactose in his mother's milk. Lactose intolerance usually develops in late adolescence or early adulthood as the body slowly loses the ability to produce lactase, the enzyme that digests the milk sugar lactose. However, some children experience temporary lactose intolerance after infection or antibiotics damage the lining of the intestines, and a few kids naturally lose their ability to produce lactase when they are still in grade school.
Step 1
Completely eliminate all forms of milk and dairy from your child's diet. This includes cheese, yogurt, ice cream and butter. If you are still breastfeeding and the lactose intolerance is the result of infection or antibiotic use, you may be able to continue breastfeeding since the antibodies in your milk help your child more than a temporary lactose intolerance can harm her. Another alternative may be to express your milk and add lactase to the milk before feeding it to your child.
Step 2
Reintroduce dairy products slowly after two weeks of complete avoidance to determine your child's level of tolerance. Start with a small amount of hard cheese or yogurt, which generally contain less lactose than many other dairy products. Restrict any foods that cause a reaction in your child.
Step 3
Provide lactose-free milk instead of regular milk if your child will drink it. Lactose-free cheese, yogurt and other dairy products may also be available.
Step 4
Give your child plenty of other calcium sources in his daily diet, such as canned sardines or salmon with bones, calcium-fortified juice, spinach and other dark green vegetables. Children need 1,300 mg of calcium between the ages of 9 and 18, so you may need to talk to a pediatrician to determine whether your lactose-intolerant child needs to take a calcium supplement.
Step 5
Ask your child's pediatrician about lactase supplements, which can be taken at the same time as dairy products and can help the body digest the sugars in milk. If your child enjoys dairy products but has developed an intolerance, lactase supplements may provide a way for him to enjoy an occasional dairy treat.
Things You'll Need
- Lactose-free milk
- Lactase enzyme supplements
