Family Matters

Children often grow out of lactose intolerance but around a fifth of lactose intolerant children will retain the condition into adulthood. The condition is easily managed, and increasing availability of lactose-reduced alternatives to milk mean that your child need not miss out on vital vitamins and minerals like calcium while they grow up.

The information here is specifically tailored to dealing with lactose intolerance at a young age, with the latest news, strategies and helpful tips for parents and the whole family.

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Lactose intolerance in children

1st March 2008

Babies to 12 months

Babies will need breast milk or formula milk until they’re at least twelve months old. Cows’ milk is not suitable as a drink until a baby is a year old because it contains too much salt and protein, and not enough iron and other nutrients, to meet their needs.

Children 12 months to 2 years

Between the ages of twelve months and two years, children can continue with breast or formula milk or drink whole (full fat) cows’ milk.

Children 2 years to 5 years

From two years old, toddlers can start to have semi-skimmed milk if they have a varied diet. Fully skimmed milk isn’t suitable until children are five years old, because it doesn’t contain enough calories for a growing child.

Children and lactose intolerance

Lactose intolerance in young children should be diagnosed and managed by health professionals. Once diagnosed, children can have periods where intolerance to lactose is heightened, for example during a period of illness.

If a child is diagnosed by a health professional, the best advice is for parents, under supervision of a Registered Dietitian, is to use a lactose-free dairy drink like Lactofree which has the same taste and nutritional benefits as regular milk.

If using a non-dairy alternative it is very important to choose one that is fortified with calcium. Also include plenty of calcium-rich foods such as soya beans, fortified flour and fortified breakfast cereals, green leafy vegetables and well mashed soft-bone fish like sardines in the diet, to ensure the child is not at risk from nutritional deficiencies.

Galactosaemia

Galactosaemia is a very rare, inherited, metabolic disease caused by galactose. Lactose is broken down into glucose and galactose by lactase, the enzyme present in the stomach. It is possible that galactose can be present in Lactofree milk. It should therefore not be given to children with galactosaemia.

This advice has been developed in conjunction with Consultant Gastroenterologist Dr John Mayberry and Registered Dietitian Sian Porter.