How do you know if your baby is lactose intolarant i have changed formulas and she spits up more than most babies

Lactose : Lactose intolerance is the lack of an intestinal enzyme called lactase and is the inability to digest lactose - the sugar found in milk and other dairy products. Babies are born with the lactase enzyme and most lactose intolerance does not occur until age 3 or older if at all. Symptoms can be bloating, cramps, diarrhea, nausea and poor growth in children. Some races such as asians and african americans are more susceptable to lactose intolerance than caucasians. 2%-3% of infants have milk allergy and the good news is that many of them outgrow in by 3-5 years of age. Milk allergy is actually the body's immune system recognizing cow milk protein in the intestines as a foreign substance and causing symptoms like loose, sometimes bloody stool, irritability, vomiting and food refusal. This usually occurs in the first few months of life. The incidence of milk allergy is lower in breast fed babies than formula fed babies, but some babies react to the cow's milk protein transferred through the mother's milk from the dairy in the mother's diet. Your baby's spitting could also be gastroesophageal reflux which is way more common than either lactose intolerance or milk allergy. You should give your baby's doctor a call to discuss her spitting. Once the reason for her spitting is figured out, steps can be taken to improve it. Good luck!

Doubt it: Most spitters have exaggerated reflux.This usually worsens until about 4 months before starting to improve.Formula changes seldom help.True lactose intolerance affects few newborns but can occur transiently after a bad diarrhea.Acidic watery stools are a common finding.