Lactose Intolerance in Babies

Milk allergies can easily take a while to develop in children, but, sometimes babies are born with it.

What is lactose intolerance? When you have lactose intolerance, it means your body cannot produce enough lactase, which is the enzyme that digests lactose. This is primarily sugar, that is in cow's milk and other dairy products. As a result of lactose intolerance, the undigested lactose stays in the intestines and causes gastrointestinal problems. These problems tend to be uncomfortable, but not dangerous. Some babies who are born pre-maturely cannot produce the amount of lactase needed to digest lactose for awhile. A baby's level of lactase will normally increase during the early years of life, thus reducing symptoms of lactose intolerance.