For babies or toddlers who are lactose intolerant, they require something other than cow's milk to drink to not have adverse reactions to their beverage. This is because children who are lactose intolerant lack an enzyme that helps them digest the lactose in cow's milk, which makes consuming dairy products a digestively painful experience.
While it is not common for babies or toddlers to be lactose intolerant, it does happen. And for little ones who have the intolerance, they have digestive problems. Those digestive issues include having diarrhea, gas, bloating, and cramping, according to healthline. As such, choosing an alternative to cow's milk is the only choice parents have to keep their children's stomach issues at bay.
Here are some safe milk alternatives for babies and toddlers who are lactose intolerant.
Soy Milk
One of the most popular alternatives to cow's milk is soy milk. If choosing soy milk as an alternative to whole cow's milk, it is important to choose whole soy milk to make sure that there is enough fat in the beverage. This is important because children need fat for brain development, according to the babycenter. The publication goes on to state that the soy milk chosen needs to include added calcium, vitamin A, and vitamin D as well, which all help with the development of a child.
One thing of note, according to Susan G. Komen, for children who have lactose intolerance, some may prove to be allergic to soy milk as well. As such, it is important to test soy milk in small doses to see how a little ones react to it before jumping in headfirst with large amounts of the beverage.
Almond Milk
Another popular option that is chosen for little ones who have lactose intolerance is almond milk. While it is a safe alternative, because it has a much lower fat and protein content than whole cow's milk, the intake of fat and protein that a baby or toddler would have gotten in the cow's milk will need to be supplemented elsewhere in their diet to help with brain and muscle development. Almond milk, like soy, is fortified with vitamins A and D, as well as calcium, according to MedicalNewsToday.
Before giving a child almond milk for the first time, especially if there is a history of nut allergies that runs in the family, a conversation should be had with the child's doctor to determine if almond milk is safe to try or if a different cow's milk alternative should be chosen instead.
Rice Milk
Rice milk is very simple in its ingredients. According to Wholesome Baby Food, fortified rice milk contains only rice, water, oil, and salt. Manufacturers also fortify rice milk with calcium, vitamin A, vitamin, D, and B12.
However, due to the low fat and protein content, there is concern that little ones will not get the amount of these items necessary in their diet for proper brain and muscle function. Therefore, finding whole foods to supplement a child's diet is necessary to keep their brain and body growing strong and healthy.
Oat Milk
For little ones who are struggling with not only lactose intolerance but a gluten allergy or sensitivity as well, oat milk might prove to be a good option.
Oat milk is very easy to make at home. However, according to healthline, the homemade versions are not high in nutritional value. As such, purchasing commercially made oat milk that includes vitamins A, D, and B12 are essential for nutritional health for children. Commercial oat milks are not only heart healthy but calcium-rich as well.
Because oat milk has less protein and fat per serving than whole cow's milk, the fat and protein will have to be made up for elsewhere in a child's diet.
Goat's Milk
An alternatives to cow's milk that is extremely similar, is goat's milk.
The protein that is found in goat's milk is more easily digestible than that of cow's milk. And, what may be surprising to some is that goat's milk has more calcium than cow's milk. 13% more, in fact, according to Ask Dr. Sears. It also has more vitamin A and B-6 as well. However, cow's milk has more B-12 than goat's milk, which means the vitamin will need to be made up elsewhere in a child's diet.
Because goat's milk still contains lactose, albeit a smaller amount than cow's milk, children who are lactose intolerant may still have a reaction. As such, little ones should be monitored if given goat's milk.
Source: healthline, babycenter, Susan G. Komen Foundation, MedicalNewsToday, Wholesome Baby Food, healthline, Ask Dr. Sears