Mum with lactose intolerant toddler.

[KAM]

Hi, My 2 year old son has been recently "diagnosed" as lactose intolerant by my health visitor. He's always had dreadful nappies (often, explosive and runny). We had put it down to fruit and veg, and upped his dairy! Since going dairy-free he's been much better, but it's only been 3 weeks so far.

I'd welcome any advice, especially on what to feed a hungry toddler, when my older boy can eat anything he likes, and what the future is likely to hold.

The health visitor says he should be better by 5 years old; is this other people's experience?

[Copper]

Welcome to the site.

You will be very lucky if he is not lactose intolerant at 5.

I and other members of my family have lactose intolerance (3 generations). We were born with this problem as we do not make the lactase enzyme which breaks down the lactose in the intestine. The end result is fermenting lactose which gives us bad wind and a trip or two to the loo. If it gets really bad we are actually sick too :(.

Members of my family did make the enzyme a few weeks after birth and managed to eat/drink dairy. What we didn't know was the fact that we must have been keeping to the limit our bodies could cope with. In my case I can remember years of sleepless night a a child as I felt so sick (it always catches up with me at night). Eventually it got worse and 3 out of 4 of us have to be dairy free now.

There is a good chance that your son may never produce the lactase enzyme. This will mean a dairy free diet for ever.

Have you been given a list of alternative names for dairy to look out for on ingredient lists?

We can help with alternative margarine, biscuits and chocolate :p

Have you been given an alternative milk to give him? You can use the dairy free milk to make porridge and use on cereal.

Others here have toddlers and will have much better advice about food for your son. I am a bit out of touch.

[KAM]

Thanks for the welcome. I've been told about Arla lactose free milk and butter, but nothing else. If you have any food tips I'd be grateful to hear them. I'm especially worried about Easter as he loves chocolate!

[Copper]

I have not heard of Arla. Oh just Googled and discovered it is the milk we call Lactofree :lol2:. I use Vitalite or Pure for toast, bread etc and Stork block margarine for baking.

I can't use Lactofree as it still makes me ill so I must also be intolerant to the milk protein.

The problem with chocolate is that much of the dairy free is bitter. You can get dairy free chocolate buttons in Tesco. Waitrose sell Swiss Organica chocolate which is made with rice milk, has a blue wrapper (be careful as they make other chocolates too) and tastes like Galaxy chocolate to me. Kinnerton also make a dairy chocolate which tastes ok to me but I can only get that in Waitrose down here in the south. Your local health food shop might sell them though.

I understand that finding dairy free Easter eggs is quite hard. You might find it easier to order from

http://www.dietaryneedsdirect.co.uk/cnb/shop/dietaryneeds-direct?op=catalogue-products-null&prodCategoryID=40

but you should order ASAP as they tend to run out quickly.

[KAM]

Thanks for the advice Copper, I've just ordered some Easter goodies from the website you recommended. Chocolate is my boy's absolute favourite and we may be visiting his two cousins at Easter who get loads of it.

[cnc]

Hi and welcome :) http://www.alotofchocolate.co.uk/chocolates/organic-easter-eggs-fair-trade-easter-eggs/easter-egg.php is also very good for dairy free chocolate.

It does get easier, and he'll learn to adapt so don't worry about it too much :)

[KAM]

Hi again.

I'd appreciate any thoughts on Euan's symptoms... I'm confused! :unsure:

We started a 2 week lactose-free trial, and after 3 days he was having normal nappies, but then a week after the start we got back to the loose nappies, and he's had those ever since.

I don't know what to think. Was the improvement a coincidence? Has he other intolerances? Is he intolerant at all?

He's seemed well otherwise, but had red cheeks for a few days, so maybe teething could be involved?

How do you work it out???? :confused:

[Copper]

It is difficult with toddlers who can't tell you how they feel.

It is just as difficult with adults if they have more than one intolerance.

The only way is to try and find a pattern so you need to keep a food diary. You need to write down everything he eats and drinks. Then you need to write down any symptoms, nappies and moods. Write down the time of every nasty nappy as that might help to pinpoint the problem.Hopefully a pattern will emerge.

Have you replaced dairy with soya? Soya can be a problem for some people. I developed a problem with soya despite keeping soya in my diet to a minimum.

He might be intolerant to the milk protein in which case the Lactolite milk will make him ill.

We might have ideas but no proof. Don't change anything in his diet and keep the diary for at least two weeks. Let us know how he is doing.