Advice on temporary lactose intolerance please

[TheSnickeringFox]

After a bout of gastroenteritis my 7mo ds has developed temporary lactose intolerance (very frequent green frothy poo, wind and stomach cramps). He's now had diarrhoea for 9 days. We've seen the gp and she's happy he's not dehydrated.

I have stopped all solids for just over a week and gone back to ebf. Does this sound right? I'm not giving anything supplementary - gp suggested water but surely that's pointless?

My other concern is weaning - are we missing some kind of crucial 'window' for learning skills?

Oh, and if anyone has an idea of how long this may last I'd be grateful!

[Seona1973]

I wouldnt stop solids - carb rich foods are good to give e.g. pasta, toast, rice, potato, banana, etc. You could try giving colief as that breaks down the lactose in your breastmilk

[Gastonladybird]

Banana rice apple toast always helped as did watering cds formula but the colief idea as you are bf sounds good. It could take a while to get over it.

[japhrimel]

I'd do the BRAT diet and BM too. Unless he doesn't want solids, then ebf. A week or so of EBM again shouldn't set him back - not any more than just being ill would!

How do you know it's a lactose intolerance though?

Probiotics may help, especially if he had to have antibviotics.

[TheSnickeringFox]

Lactose intolerance was the gp's diagnosis.

DS says thank you for the advice...he's been horrified about not getting any food! I hadn't heard of BRAT before.

His poor tum though. I gave him a bit of seeded bread around 12 and it was out the other end less than 7 hours later :(

[japhrimel]

No wholegrains! BRAT = Bananas, RIce, Applesauce and Toast, but make sure the toast & rice are white without seeds.

[Seona1973]

you dont have to be limited to the BRAT diet though as other carb rich foods are ok too. If your lo is not dehydrated then up to date advice is to offer their normal diet (although avoid fruit juices)

[TheSnickeringFox]

Ah, interesting, thank you. His tum seems a bit better today after a small dinner of bread and almond butter, and he polished off a whole banana for breakfast so he's obviously not feeling poorly! His nappy rash is almost gone too.

Having googled the brat diet I think it makes sense to add some binding foods to his diet and avoid loosening things like juice, but that stopping all food is ott!