My other half is lactose intolerant and I have been looking into if this condition is genetic. Milk allergies are caused when your body cannot produce enough of the enzyme that digests lactose which leads to stomach problems.

The problem usually develops in childhood but some babies can be born with this.

How do you know if your baby is lactose intolerant?

The stomach problems caused by a milk allergy will cause your child a lot of discomfort so it is likely they will be crying a lot, they will also have permanent diarrhoea if this is the case it may be advisable to get your child checked over by a Nurse or Doctor.

Your babay may also develop a dry itchy rash that is sometimes mistaken for excema.

What do you do if your baby is lactose intolerant?

Doctors and Nurses advise that Breast is best so as a mother it can be difficult to put a child onto formulas especially if it is due to a milk allergy and you do not know what to do for the best.

There are special formulas developed especially for babies with a lactose intolerance, Enfamil is a product developed by Mead Johnson that is the closest thing to breast milk on the market and can contribute to development of your child’s eyesight.

Dairy and Milk allergies are being highlighted more and there are a lot of products around like Lactose free milk and soya substitutes that you can use. No one really know where this came from but genetics do seem to contribute as 90% of Asian Americans are lactose intolerant. A large proportion of African, Hispanic and Jewish people are also lactose intolerant, As well of around 15% of Northern Europeans.

The condition can often be a side effect of celiac’s of crohn’s disease or a temporary intolerance from a trigger or medication. It is unusual for babies to be born with this allergy and usually only seen in premature babies or if both parents carry the gene. There is evidence that genetically the condition can skip a generation.