Not sure where to post this...dairy intolerance question

[mrs.t]

My 9 mo BF DS has had reactions to dairy in my diet. His symptoms were gas, BMs with mucous, and that horrible red ring diaper rash. It seems to have improved as he has gotten older, I have tested it recently by having some butter, sour cream, and cheese in small amounts. He will sometimes get gassy but nothing like when he was younger (when he would wake up screaming in pain) so I think he's growing out of it.

So my question is this: I know it's not lactose per se that causes the dairy sensitivity in breast milk. But now that he is on some solids, would it help to stay away from lactose? I have not given him any dairy at all, but I and DH are lactose intolerant, so it wouldn't surprise me if DS is as well. However, we do just fine on lactose free products.

I'm so confused about the dairy thing, I hate to "just try it" and end up with a miserable baby who is in pain.

Any info would be appreciated!

[bodhitree]

I believe most dairy reactions in little ones are to the proteins in milk, not the lactose, so I think giving him lactose-free dairy products is likely to still cause a reaction. And actually, breastmilk contains lactose, so if the lactose were the problem then I think cutting out dairy from your diet wouldn't help since your milk would still contain lactose. Personally, I would wait a few more months to give him more of a chance to grow out of it, then try dairy again.

[pers]

Cow milk protein has a slightly different structure than human milk protein and bits of it in your milk can cause problems as you describe.  This intolerance is often outgrown with age. 

Lactose is the same in cows milk and human milk.  Eliminating dairy from your diet does not affect the lactose in your breastmilk at all - just the proteins.  In fact, human milk has more lactose in it than cow milk.  

If you and your DH are both lactose intolerant, there is a good chance that your DS will be too at some point.  But it doesn't usually develop until a bit later in childhood.  And especially since it is possible that he won't at all, but sometimes staying away from lactose for long periods will cause the body to decrease its production of lactase which can lead to temporary latose intolerance when dairy is consumed. 

[DevaMajka]

True lactose intolerance is incredibly rare in babies and young kids. It's much more likely that he's sensitive to a protein in milk, in which case lactose free won't help. This article on kellymom explains it well (I actually just looked it up recently :) ) http://www.kellymom.com/babyconcerns/lactose-intolerance.html

I know what you mean about not wanting to just try it!

[mrs.t]

Thanks everyone! I understand now...looks like we'll be staying dairy free for a while!