Lactose is a natural sugar in milk and milk products. Most people produce adequate amounts of a specific enzyme, known as lactase, which helps digest this type of sugar. People who do not have enough lactase are lactose-intolerant. While this digestive condition is common in children and adults, lactose intolerance is rare in babies.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance also goes by the names of disaccharidase deficiency, lactase deficiency and milk intolerance. Although this condition may cause discomfort, it is not dangerous. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, almost 30 million adults experience some degree of lactose intolerance before they reach age 20.
Babies
Although lactose intolerance is unusual in infants and toddlers, your premature baby may experience lactose intolerance for a brief time after birth. This is due to the increase in the lactase enzymes during the latter part of your pregnancy. Children under 3 years old generally produce adequate amounts of lactase. This condition tends to affect caucasian children after 5 years of age, but it can affect African-American children as early as age 2. A stool test is the standard method of confirming the presence of lactose intolerance in your very young child.
Symptoms
An insufficient amount of lactase can cause a range of symptoms that may vary in intensity. These symptoms include bloating, gas, nausea, diarrhea and abdominal cramps. Drinking milk or consuming dairy products can increase digestive discomfort.
Considerations
Milk is generally safe for your baby. In infants, other digestive conditions may cause symptoms that resemble lactose intolerance. Colic is a common disorder that can cause pain and crying in your very young baby. Episodes of colic occur most frequently near the end of the day. While the cause of colic remains unknown, it is not due to lactose intolerance. Your colicky babies may have a swollen abdomen due to swallowing air during crying. Colic is unusual in babies over the age of 6 months. Contact your pediatrician if your baby experiences recurrent episodes of abdominal pain or any of the symptoms associated with lactose intolerance. Since milk is a main source of nutrients and seldom the cause of abdominal pain, do not eliminate milk from your baby's diet without your pediatrician's advice. Babies that fail to gain weight may have an underlying health condition that requires medical care.
