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Lactose Intolerance
My 11-month-old has some mild reactions to dairy products. If she is lactose intolerant, what sorts of foods do you suggest I feed her to ensure she gets enough protein and calcium?
Do these foods give as much protein/calcium as dairy products? Do I have to increase the amount she eats?
My own daughter had a problem with lactose intolerance, so this is something I know quite a lot about. She is now 14, tall and healthy with strong teeth and decides herself how much dairy produce her body can take.
She can still react to it. However, her sensitivity diminished around the age of two.
Dried fruit and nuts are good sources of calcium, as are peas and broccoli.
I relied quite heavily on puréed dried apricots – soak them first, simmer them gently for 10 minutes, then blend them until smooth – mixed with ground almonds for the protein and extra calcium. Yoghurt is low in lactose, as is cottage cheese, so can be added in very small quantities to, say, puréed peas.
I also found that my daughter’s digestion settled and she gained weight when I stopped giving her fresh apple juice, and used diluted, unsweetened fresh orange juice instead. Sucrose – the sugar in most sweet things, made her lose, not gain, weight, so I used powdered fructose from a local health food shop as a sweetener. Don’t forget that lactose is used in many biscuits and other products, so check every label. Whey powder is another form of lactose used in processed food, so avoid that too. It’s a real nuisance, but well worth the effort because the tummy pains stop and the weight piles on. Egg yolks provide calcium and the white provides protein. The white can be given to babies from about one year, but it’s not advisable before. Lentils are also a source of both calcium and protein and are excellent for young babies – try stewing them with vegetables and a little meat.
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