Lactose Intolerant - Biddeford, ME

Hi J.~
I have a 4 yr old daughter who has celiac and is lactose intolerant. I did find putting my daughter on a gluten free and diary free diet helped tremendously with her sleep. There stomachs are not as upset and more settled before bedtime. I can tell you that there is non-dairy milk called Lactose (takes just like milk) and my daughter loves it she doesn't even know the difference. I can also get her to drink vanilla rice milk, I find it tastes better than soy. It is hard but you get used to it. Feel free to email me if you want other suggestions. I also have a milk allergy.
Good Luck
Kristina

Hi J.,
There are many alternatives to milk. One question though, is your daughter allergic to all dairy? Or just milk? Having an intolerance can definately affect her sleeping and behavior if she is uncomfortable. You can try soy milk or rice milk. My son is 6 and has multiple food allergies. It started when he was an infant and we switched to soy, but then became allergic to that too. So now he drinks Rice Dream rice milk. It's sold at Big Y and Stop and Shop. Try soy first for 6 mos and see how it goes. Good luck.

Hi J.,
It's my understanding that being lactose intolerant and having an allergy to milk are 2 completely separate things, so you might want to investigate a little further if that is true, and if so, which thing your daughter actually has.
If it is an allergy, I think it all depends on the severity. My daughter was mildly allergic. She could still have milk products in moderate portions. But if she had too much in one day, she'd start to get a rash around her mouth - then I'd just cut back and not let her have so much cheese or ice cream, etc. for a few days. Eventually she actually outgrew the allergy. As with any allergy, there can be severe reactions - so you need to understand how bad your daughters' allergy is.

My son developed lactose intolerance after a particularly bad bout of the flu. We use lactaid milk now..it tastes almost the same as regular milk. I also chose that because a lot of small children have a hard time digesting soy. He is now 4, it's been about 2 years, and he seems to be fine. He is able to eat yogurt (because it's pre-digested) and cheese because quite a few cheeses are lactose free. He still has an upset stomach when he eats ice cream at a birthday party, but nothing severe.
As another poster suggested, I would be certain to distinguish between lactose intolerance and a true "allergy" because that is a huge distinction.

I did not see any impact on his sleep at all when we switched.

C.

I just want to second that a milk allergy is different from being lactose intolerant. An important distinction, because you'll find that people want to offer you kid lactaid all the time, but it's a totally different issue. I am pretty sure the blood test is finding out about the allergy (to milk protein).

I have an allergy to milk but haven't had to deal with this on a family level. I can say that once you get used to it, it is less of a big deal - it just takes a bit to figure it out. Where I always run into trouble is not having snack food that is OK when I am out. So always pack some snacks! Good luck!

I agree that there is a difference in severity between a milk allergy and an intolerance to lactose. I have a friend whose child was diagnosed with 50 food allergies - milk, soy, deli meat, and a million (well, 47!) other things, as well as a learning disability. They put him, as well as their other kids, on Reliv's Now For Kids formula (though they started him in smaller quantities than the other kids) and, over time, he got rid of every allergy! I have so many other friends who have been inspired and have seen similar results with this fantastic family of products. The allergy isn't something genetic - it's due to an imbalance in the body. When that balance is restored, all kinds of problems go away. Moreover, we and our kids aren't sick any more - the Reliv supports the immune system in so many ways. It's so much easier for everyone if you can restore the balance in a simple and delicious way (the Reliv is a powder you mix into a delicious vanilla or chocolate shake). It's so much easier, and safer, than having to read every label, keep your kid away from birthday parties and school functions, and so on. I'd love to share more info with you!

Just wanted you to know that there is a difference between lactose intolerance and a true milk allergy. Your daughter has a true milk allergy (this is the blood test) and you need to remove ALL milk products from her diet. Even hidden dairy. This is possible to do, although it can be frustrating at first until you figure it all out. But it will become easier and easier.

You will find that her sleep pattern will change...generally for the better! Good luck!

Taking milk products-especially if they have an intolerance to it-can significantly help with problems your child has experienced, from sleep, to immune & digestive health and even earaches. It does not matter so much if she has an intolerance to lactose, or to the milk protein called casein: just stay away from any milk products. Also as a side note: often when there are problems with dairy, there can also be other intolerances that won't necessarily show up on tests like wheat and gluten, be aware of that. You can start experimenting with other types of milk: almond, soy and hemp milk are extremely nutritious and delicious. Make sure you get unsweetened and be cautious with soy, because some find this is allergenic as well. My personal favorites are almond and hemp (this has good oils in it that children need as well). Start experimenting and do more research on the subject. good luck!

The protein in cow milk is similar to the protein in soy - be sure your child can tolerate soy. If so, there are so many soy products that replace milk and many are in regular supermarkets. If not, then you'll be seeking out health stores for rice, hemp and other types of products. Hemp milk is much more nutritious than rice milk - and priced to reflect that! Look for "Caseine" as an ingredient - it is dairy protein and could cause a reaction. If you google "milk soy protein intolerance" you'll find some good websites with recipes and recommended products.
It helps when the child's stomach and gut doesn't hurt - you may find the initial adjustment hard. But in the long run, it isn't too hard and your child's health will improve.

Hi J.,
My son has a milk protein allergy, which I'm guessing is what you're referring to since it's found through bloodwork. Did your doctor call it lactose intolerance, because they are very different things. Milk allergy involves a reaction to one or both milk proteins (whey or casein) and can lead to anaphylactic shock. Lactose intolerance is more of a digestive issue related to the lactose enzyme, and is upsetting, but not as serious. You should be clear on this because the possible reaction and treatment are very different.
In any case, my son was diagnosed at about 1 yr, and unfortunately has not outgrown it yet (he's 10 1/2). He is very independent now with knowing what he can eat, and educates those around him. How old is your daughter? Once you learn how to read labels and cook with alternative ingredients, it just becomes a part of daily life. I'd strongly recommend joining FAAN (food allergy and anaphylaxis network), which supports research into food allergy. They send a monthly newsletter that includes great recipes. Good luck, and feel free to contact me if you have questions (if that's an option on this site).
P.S.
J. - I just read the other responses to your question and I'm concerned that they contain a lot of misinformation and confusion between allergy and intolerance. Please be sure to clarify with your doctor

For what it is worth, I talked to my doctor recently about food intolerances. There is a recent article in the New England Journal (in the last 6-8 months) that found that blood tests are totally unreliable when it comes to testing allergies. These tests are showing allergies where they may not even exist. Scratch testing done with an allergist are much more accurate. I would get a second opinion with perhaps a nutritionist who can help pinpoint any gut enzyme deficiency.
Good luck!

Hi Jami,
When kids have allergic tendencies it does help to look at other things that might be bothering them as well. Have you looked at the toxins in your home? You may also want to consider all natural cleaning products, soaps, shampoos etc... it will help her system to become stronger.

How old is your daughter now? She may grow out of the intolerance (hopefully). As an aside I agree that sometimes working part time gives the mom and daughter a good space!

Good luck,
C. W
www.LiveTotalWellness.com/Arizona
Helping families reconsider shopping strategies.

YES IT DID!!!!!!!! My little guys still wakes but that is do to sensory problems but he wakes much less now that we eliminated dairy.

EDITED: J. you will want to find out which protein in milk she has an allergy to because this will determine if she can have any dairy products and what to look for in other things whey or casein.

You'll need to find out if she is allergic to milk or if she lacks the enzymes to process milk. There is a difference. You'll need to talk to an allergy specialist. Kids who are actually "allergic" to milk can't even touch it, they will break out in hives and some go into allergic shock and need cortizone, allergy meds or even an epi shot. Kids that have a lactose intolerance can drink it but it will make them sick to their stomach and if they want to drink milk they have to take lactose pills or drink lactose free milk. Most kids with the intolerance just stay away from it because milk/cheese, etc makes their stomach hurt. Somes kids get over this and develop the enzyme over time. You'll want to talk to your pediatrician about a plan to introduce milk or milk products overtime if that is the case. Or you'll want to stay away from items that include lactose (milk). Good luck.