Hi

My DD has had silent reflux since she was born and while we keep getting told she will grow out of this at key points (I.e. When she is sitting, then it was solids, then upright and moving about, then when she turns 1). All of these key stages have now past (1 tomorrow) and still the reflux. The GP has suggested perhaps trying lactose free milk to see if that helps as perhaps a food reaction is causing the reflux.

I went to look for some lactose free milk options today but where do you start? I would really appreciate any suggestions that anyone on here has for something suitable for a 1 year old.

Thanks

Anchor make a lactose free cows milk called Zero Lacto. I am severely lactose intolerant and it is completely fine for me

Could be well worth a try

My understanding is that true lactose intolerance is quite rare. It's more likely that she has cow's milk protein intolerance or allergy. By all means give the lactose free milk a go. But I would say that it would be a better approach to go dairy free - ie no dairy in anything (read the ingredients of everything and also avoid whey and casein). It will take her body about 3 weeks to be completely free of dairy then you could consider re-introducing the lactose free milk only and see if her symptoms re-appear (that's if the dairy free diet made a difference).

Hi 3boys,

Do you mind providing a little more info re "true lactose intolerance is quite rare." As you know I am now lactose intolerant, have been off dairy for months now - and I was thinking of trying the lactose free milk.

So, was just wondering what you mean by the above. Are you saying that most lactose intolerant people can tolerate some lactose? Great if that can!

Thanks
PP

hmmm, actually lactose intolerance is quite common because there's several ways we lose the ability to process milk over the years but I guess what I was trying to get at in my dyslexic way is that lactose intolerance under two is not that common esp because she doesn't mention bowel and gut involvement which is the main symptom of lactose intolerance - it's more likely to be protein intolerance.

So my understanding is (and that's just how I interpret what I've read) that people with a lactose intolerance lack enough lactase in the gut to breakdown the lactose in the milk so the result is runny bowels and bloating etc.

With a dairy protein allergy or intolerance the reaction is to the actual protein in the milk and this is not removed in lactose free milk - just the lactose is removed which is a type of sugar (so it's really important for people with dairy allergy to understand the difference or they could have a reaction). With intolerance it is usually dose related ie if you imagine a glass is your tolerance level then once your glass is overflowing with milk you start to get intolerance reactions (which can be similar to mild allergy reactions) and including things like bloating, irritable bowels, constipation, reflux, skin issues etc and for allergy the reactions can be the same and might also include hives, eczema, vomiting and anaphylaxis.

This site explains it much better than me lol http://www.allergyclinic.co.nz/guides/21.html

I don't really know which way it might be. My DP has issues with dairy (can eat yoghurt but cheese has to be cooked, milk he won't drink..... Started down IBS path when he was stressed) so had kind of been prepared that DD might have something. She is on nurture gold starter formula still as when I tried to move her onto the next stage ones she got diarrhea and we had some spilling (unusual for her as her reflux is silent). This happened on all of the options for next stage formulas -we tried a lot! The only thing I could really see that might cause it was that the casein content goes from 40% to 60%, i hadnt thought too much more about that as she was fine on the starter one and various nutrition experts i spoke to said it was not an issue as it would contain all the nutrients she needed still. Like her father DD seems to be able to eat yoghurt and cheese in cooking (but not uncooked), and I think that is why my GP thought try lactose free. DD is often gassy (and her tummy seems a little bloated at times) at the moment and is having bowel issues (rather loose currently). I am finding it all a bit confusing really but would love it if the reflux was a byproduct of a food reaction as I am not that keen on her having to stay on losec indefinitely at her age. Arghhhh

I see your point Jay M. It's tricky isn't it? I still think it's better to fully eliminate dairy to start with though because wouldn't there still be lactose in the other dairy she eats (including biscuits, muesli bars, bread etc)?. If you fully eliminate all dairy and see an improvement and then intro lactose free milk only then I think you'd see a more clear picture of what is going on. Although that said if she has a reaction to the lactose free milk you still won't know if it's the lactose or the milk protein in the milk so either way I think you'll end up dairy free unless you clearly get no reaction on reintroduction... tricky eh?! Also be aware that if you use soy there may also be a reaction to that as well.

The other problem is what to replace formula with while dairy free. If this is a short term trial (and preferably with the approval of a gp or dietician) you could do protein enriched rice milk (Vitasoy brand is best) or soy milk or soy formula. You can also get soy icecream and soy yoghurt but again I'd be wary of giving too much soy during the dairy free time.

It's all just trial and error really until you find a combo that works for you. Keeping a food diary helps too. Good luck.