Can I Give My Baby Lactaid?

Do babies need Lactaid? Despite the fact that the human body has evolved a lot from the very beginnings, strangely enough there are still some things that people cannot get used to – even after thousands of years. One of those things that many people, or better said their digestive system, has not gotten used to is dairy products.

Many people are lactose intolerant. Now the most logical solution to this situation is to simply avoid cheese, milk, and all other dairy products, but this starts another discussion – how to make up for all the ingredients and nutrients contained in dairy products?

This question has not been left unanswered, and there is such a thing as a line of dairy products made especially for people who are lactose intolerant. Lactaid is the name you will find on cottage cheese, milk, and many other products – none of these, however, will contain lactose. So, this leads to a conclusion that Lactaid products are simply the perfect solution. These products can be great for adults, but when it comes to babies, it is wise to do some research and find out whether these products are safe for them too.

Can I Give My Baby Lactaid? Answer: Not Recommended

Milk is rich in calcium, and although it is possible to consume calcium through some other types of foods, milk is undeniably the best source of calcium. Now, calcium is great for bones, and babies need calcium in order to develop and become healthy and strong young people. The problem appears when a baby is allergic to cow’s milk, and cannot consume it safely. As it has already been mentioned, the baby could avoid dairy products, but this would result in insufficient intake of calcium and other ingredients dairy products contain. So, should you feed your baby products that are lactose-free?

The general opinion is that Lactaid should not be given to babies. Many pediatricians claim that lactose-free milk is not a good option for babies, and that it is a much better option not to give your baby any milk at all. In their opinion, this type of product could cause a baby to lose appetite, as well as give stomachaches to your little one. The verdict is – it is better to be safe than sorry!

So, What Should You Do?
You cannot decide that your baby will not have milk, whether this is the regular kind or the one that contains no lactose, as they will still need the calcium and other nutritious ingredients from milk. You should come up with a substitute for milk, and help your baby grow healthy. The experts suggest that the ideal solution for this problem is to substitute milk with other foods that contain calcium.

Some of these include sesame seeds, dark leafy vegetables, oranges, nuts, and many other kinds of foods. However, each of these substitutes should be first researched, meaning that you should consult with your pediatrician and ask them whether your baby should consume any of the abovementioned sources of calcium, as well as when the best time to start is.

What Else You Can Do
Your options do not stop here, owing to the fact that there is another thing you can do to make up for the nutrients found in milk. Namely, many pediatricians will advise you to give your baby dairy products if they are intolerant to lactose, but this will exclude milk. Milk is the most ‘problematic’ dairy product, whereas yogurt and cheese are easier to digest. So, you may try with these two and see whether your baby will be able to digest them without any problems.

A Word of Caution
Having cramps, gas, and mild stomachaches is one thing, whilst being allergic to milk is a completely different thing. Firstly, there is the health hazard, and babies who are allergic to milk should not be exposed to any such products, whether these are with or without lactose. Feeding a baby milk regardless of the allergy it has can pose a serious threat to its health. So, there is only one thing to do – run some tests in order to determine whether your baby is allergic to milk or not, and only if the answer is negative can you go ahead as planned.

Add Your Own Answer to Can I Give My Baby Lactaid? Below

{ 7 comments… read them below or add one }

Domenic A Licatay March 30, 2014 at 11:18 am

It seems kind of silly that you would say it’s not recommended to give lactaid to children. All it died is remove the lactose from normal dairy products making it safe for people with intolerance to eat. How is that at all harmful to children? They are still the exact same products otherwise.

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canigivemybaby March 30, 2014 at 11:08 pm

Hi Domenic,
I say its not recommended because Lactaid is not beneficial to children, it doesn’t contain any nutritional benefits and it may also cause stomach problems and lead children to have a decreased appetite.
Best regards, Amber

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Jitka April 9, 2014 at 6:27 pm

Check the back of the Lactaid carton. There are ingredients NOT regularly found in milk. Like an enzyme to process lactose, because you can’t just simply remove it. There are also thickening agents etc.. So, I would def consult your baby’s doctor first.

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Jitka April 9, 2014 at 6:27 pm

Check the back of the Lactaid carton. There are ingredients NOT regularly found in milk. Like an enzyme to process lactose, because you can’t just simply remove it. There are also thickening agents etc.. So, I would def consult your baby’s doctor first.

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canigivemybaby April 13, 2014 at 11:04 pm

Thanks for your comments Jitka, its a good idea to check the back of the carton for ingredients

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give it to my baby October 16, 2014 at 5:30 am

I give it to my baby and she’s two months but she couldn’t drink no type of formula I breast feed and give her the lactaid milk it actually helps my baby stomach

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Dawn November 17, 2014 at 2:17 pm

I had/have problems with my baby tolerating formula too. After many switches, I found Similac Sensitive to work best. He is now 13 months old and did not tolerate switching to Vit D milk so my doc is recommending Lactaid. I am hoping this works. There is much debate about starting a baby on “nut” milk due to the allergies to nuts. I find advice so confusing since everyone contradicts what the other person says!

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