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What is my toddler reacting to? Lactose/CMPA/something else?

3 replies

tillyluna · 15/11/2025 17:51

My LO is just over 2 and still breastfeeding a couple of times a day.
ive had her on a dairy free diet ever since she was 14 months old as she had some sort of GI episode that caused diarrhoea for six weeks, (cause never known, despite two stool samples). She has also been on infant gaviscon since 9 months for some mild regurgitation/reflux issues.

for the past year or so, I have cut dairy as I noticed when I ate lots of dairy, it would cause LO to have an upset tummy and/or increased reflux - usually within 24 hours. I myself also started getting tummy cramps after eating dairy so assumed that LO was lactose intolerant and I had become lactose intolerant as I’d stopped exposing my own system to as much dairy.

We’ve bumbled along like this quite happily until my friend pointed out today that breast milk is really high in lactose, so my girl can’t be lactose intolerant as she is still breast feeding and isn’t getting upset by my milk. Equally, I’m not sure she has CMPA as she can eat lactose free cheese no problem, which contains cows milk, so now I’m really confused as if she tolerates cows milk cheese, she can’t be CMPA…

a couple of weeks ago, I accidentally drank half a cup of tea with cows milk - the baby had an upset tummy the next day.
a few months ago, I ate a butter croissant not a vegan one by accident for breakfast. By the next morning, she again has a loose BM. So, there is a correlation between her symptoms and dairy, but now I don’t understand what part of dairy is causing the reaction.

anyone been through something similar who might be able to offer some advice, please? It isn’t something worth bothering a doctor about as it’s more for my curiosity. I don’t mind staying dairy free, I’d just like to understand what is going on a bit better! TIA

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
MuteDS · 15/11/2025 23:30

is her reflux immediate after eating dairy ?

tillyluna · 15/11/2025 23:57

She hasn’t directly eaten dairy for a while now, but reflux was immediate last time it happened.
on the other hand, she can eat lactose free cathedral city and be absolutely fine. It’s bizarre!!

OP posts:
Newparent101 · 16/11/2025 01:04

There's a kind of "ladder" in CMPA regarding reactions to dairy. Milk and butter cause stronger reactions, whereas hard cheese has already partially been broken down so some kids with milder CMPA are OK with hard cheese but not with milk/ butter/soft cheese. Have a Google of the CMPA milk ladder

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