Lactose intolerance is not usually the cause of a fussy baby, but lactose-free formula may be necessary for babies with galactosemia or temporary lactose intolerance due to diarrhea. Lactose-free formulas include cow’s milk with lactose removed, soy formula, and hydrolyzed protein formula. Consult a pediatrician before switching formulas.
Many parents have fussy babies, and sometimes blame babies’ infant formula, citing a lactose intolerance. Lactose, or milk sugar, is present in breast milk, however, this is not usually the cause of the baby’s fur. However, there are some babies who require lactose-free formula, particularly those who have galactosemia, which is the inability to digest lactose. Another reason for parents to temporarily switch to lactose-free formula is a bout of diarrhea, which can cause temporary lactose intolerance. The different types of lactose-free formula include varieties made with lactose-free cow’s milk, soy protein, or hydrolysates.
One type of lactose-free formula is simply formula made from cow’s milk that has had the lactose removed. Usually, corn syrup and table sugar, called sucrose, are added to formula in place of lactose. This type of infant formula might help babies who are unable to digest lactose, either temporarily or permanently, but are not suitable for babies allergic to cow’s milk, as they still contain milk protein.
A baby who is unable to tolerate cow’s milk might switch to soy formula, which is another type of lactose-free formula. This type of formula is also suitable for vegan families who do not want their children to ingest any products of animal origin. One problem with using soy formula in a milk-allergic baby is that many milk-allergic babies are also allergic to soy. There are also some speculations that soy formulas may cause growth problems, particularly in babies born very small or premature.
For babies who are unable to digest lactose or soy, some pediatricians recommend a hydrolyzed or predigested protein formula. Other reasons for giving hydrolysed formulas include frequent rashes, colic, or other symptoms of an allergy. These lactose-free formulas are very easy for babies with allergies to digest. These formulas are typically quite expensive and could cost three times as much as traditional milk-based infant formula.
In all cases, parents should consult their baby’s pediatrician before deciding what type of formula to feed their baby. Most babies do well on cow’s milk formula. Even if a baby is colicky, this does not necessarily mean that the baby is lactose intolerant or that lactose-free formula is needed. Switching formulas can cause further digestive upset, so it should only be done under the advice and supervision of a doctor.
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