If your little one complains of tummy-aches after drinking a glass of milk or eating an ice-cream, they may be lactose intolerant. The initial thought may worry parents, but it is important to be aware of the signs, symptoms and how to deal with it. To help you out, we have come up with a few things you need to know if you think your child is lactose intolerant.
If your child is lactose intolerant, this means that they are unable to absorb lactose - a naturally occurring sugar found in milk and other foods containing milk. This inability to digest lactose can cause some unpleasant symptoms when milk or other foods containing milk are consumed. It’s important to understand that lactose intolerance is very different to a dairy allergy. A dairy allergy occurs when the immune system reacts to the protein found in cow’s milk and can result in a serious allergic reaction, in which case your child should avoid all dairy. Please consult your GP to ensure your child gets a proper diagnosis.
There are a couple of different types of lactose intolerance, so it depends on the type you have. Primary lactose intolerance is genetically determined so it does run in families; it is particularly common in Asian and African populations but also affects approx. 5-10% of the Irish population. Secondary lactose intolerance is caused by a problem in the small intestine; it is often temporary and resolves when the gut heals, it does not run in families. With small children, many cases of lactose intolerance are secondary; it is often caused by a tummy bug or infection in the digestive system and in many cases is temporary. Please consult your GP to determine what type of lactose intolerance your child may have.
If you have a hunch that your child might be lactose intolerant, look out for these 3 key signs and seek advice from your GP:
1. Wind, loose stools and diarrhoea - after they eat products containing lactose.
2. Bloating - Your child's stomach might appear bloated after they have milk or other foods that contain milk and they may experience nausea.
3. Sore tummy - Your little one might complain of pain, cramps and general abdominal discomfort.
Here is a non-exhaustive list of food to keep an eye on:
1. Dairy products.
These include milk (including powdered milk), butter, cheese, yoghurt, cream and ice-cream.
2. Baked goods.
These include cookies, biscuits, cakes, pies, pastries and any desserts that contain milk.
3. Sweet treats:
These include fudge, toffee, butterscotch, caramels, coated candies, sherbet and chocolate, pudding and custard.
Initially, your doctor may tell you to keep a food diary to pinpoint what is making your child feel ill. They may recommend cutting out dairy temporarily to see if your child’s symptoms disappear – if they do chances are they may be lactose intolerant. There is also a lactose breath test they may do to determine the hydrogen levels in the breath after consuming lactose. High hydrogen levels could indicate an intolerance.
Dairy is a valuable source of calcium in the Irish diet and is very important to the development of your child’s bones, so it’s important not to cut it out of their diet unnecessarily. In most cases, if your child is lactose intolerant, they do not need to avoid lactose completely and will be able to tolerate small amounts of lactose daily. Most people can tolerate small amounts of cheese and yoghurt which have lower levels of lactose and you can switch to lactose free milk. Everyone is different so it does require a little bit of trial and error to find your child’s tolerance level - try increasing the amount of lactose in their diet gradually to find out what works for them.
There is one type of lactose intolerance where you would need to avoid all lactose but this is very rare.
We recommend trying Avonmore Lactose Free milk. It is made with regular cow’s milk but has the enzyme lactase added, which helps break down the lactose, making it easier for your child to digest. This allows them to drink milk and avoid those unpleasant symptoms. Avonmore Lactose Free milk has the same great, fresh taste and nutritional benefits as you expect from regular milk and is fortified with Vitamin D to help your child absorb that all-important calcium!
There is also wisdom in teaching your little one about the importance of reading food labels- and practising what you preach! Show your child how to identify whether or not something contains lactose.
Remember: If you think your child might be lactose intolerant, please consult your doctor for advice.
It might seem tough initially, but you and your child will get the hang of it in no time! Good luck mums!
