Very few children are allergic to the
protein in milk (around 1%). These children break out
in hives, experience diarrhea, wheeze or suffer other
allergic reactions when they eat or drink dairy products.
Other children are lactose intolerant,
meaning that the sugar found in milk causes them to
bloat and suffer from diarrhea. Even though a child
is lactose intolerant, he or she may still be able to
eat or drink dairy foods. To make dairy tolerable, lactase
drops can be added to milk or lactase medication can
be taken to help digest the sugar found in milk products.
It is essential that those children who
do avoid consuming dairy products supplement their diets
with calcium. If the diet is not supplemented, children
run the risk of developing rickets which results in
soft bones and short stature and will be unable to store
enough calcium needed to prevent osteoporosis later
in life.
Although there are other ways to add calcium
to the diet, such as eating broccoli and kale, and drinking
calcium-fortified orange juice, these foods can not
provide enough calcium. Instead, calcium supplements
should be taken. These supplements are available over-the-counter
in several forms, including liquid, chewables, and tablets.
The pediatricians at Boys Town Pediatrics
recommend avoiding cow's milk during the first year
of life, giving whole milk to children ages 12 to 24
months and low-fat milk to children over the age of
2. For more information on the benefits of drinking
milk, talk with your physician.
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