Lactose Intolerance in baby/toddler

[pashmina696]

Hi, I am wondering if anyone can help shed light on this - my youngest DS who is just 2 tolerated breastmilk no problem, however when i started mix feeding him with follow on milk at 9 months he started having some mild constipation, i then tried him on normal milk at age 1 and 2 hours later he had diarrhoea.... i then tried him on lactofree (when he had recovered) and he was absolutely fine, so i stopped the follow on milk and kept him on this.

I spoke to GP and they advised try to introduce regular milk after a break - i have tried this several times but it always upsets his tummy. he is quite happy on lactofree however what confuses me is that i understand primary lactose intolerance is really rare before age 4/5 and secondary lactose intolerance should resolve after a few months - its definitely not secondary - however has anyone else's DC had this from such a young age? have they grown out of it? GP advises lactose is also in breastmilk so if he was intolerant to lactose he shouldn't have tolerated breastmilk.....

I agree with your GP. Breastmilk is packed full of lactose.

I never gave my children milk - no real nutritional need for it after weaning.

Milk proteins can cause problems but you need someone more expert than me on this one

I am fully aware of lactose being in breastmilk, but i cannot fathom why he tolerates lactofree so well when that is milk with only the lactose removed, and my understanding is that this contains all the usual cows milk proteins. I plan to bring this up with the GP tomorrow and seek appropriate testing, but just thought i'd put it out there and see if others had experienced similar??

We had this with DS although the dietician and I still can't decide whether it's a lactose intolerance or CMPI. Either way he is one in a week or two and after almost a year of eczema, tummy trouble, constipation etc he seems to be growing out of it. He now eats milk cooked in other foods and also yogurt without ill effects.

What really helped us was getting a referral to the dietician, good luck OP.

Thanks - yes we are now getting a paediatric referral to allergy/intolerance!