When Babies Cry Over Milk
Between 2% and 8% of infants will develop either cow’s milk allergy or lactose intolerance. Both of these sensitivities can lead to malnutrition and other complications, so be alert for the signs. Common symptoms of milk allergy include skin reactions such as redness around the mouth or hives. The usual intestinal symptoms are vomiting and diarrhea. A more serious reaction, and one requiring immediate medical attention, is indicated by swelling, which occurs when fluid collects in the body. “Parents should watch for allergic symptoms whenever any new food is introduced,” says Dr. Rhoda Kagan, a pediatric allergist at Montreal’s Children’s Hospital. “Symptoms can appear the first time a food is given or after it has been tried several times.” Milk allergy occurs when the child’s immune system rejects a protein in cow’s milk and goes into attack mode. The solution is to revert to breast milk or switch to a soy-based formula.
Some babies, however, may also be allergic to soy, in which cases parents can try a hydrolyzed (“predigested”) milk formula—a more expensive option but perhaps the only alternative here. Lactose intolerance is an inability to digest the lactose, a carbohydrate in milk; it does not involve the immune system. Symptoms are stomach cramps, bloating, gas and diarrhea. In infants it is usually transient and caused by a gastrointestinal infection. It can be treated by switching to a lactose-free formula for a few weeks.
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