You’ve spent the morning prepping a homemade custard, soft, warm, just right for your six-month-old’s first taste of dairy. Then comes the squirm. The fuss. A gassy, unsettled hour you didn’t quite plan for.
If that scene rings a bell, lactose may be playing a role.
For many babies, small amounts of dairy from around six months can sit happily alongside breastmilk or formula as solids are introduced. But some digest lactose less easily than others, leaving colic related symptoms such as, wind, bloating and loose stools. This can have parents wondering whether to skip dairy altogether.
The good news: you usually don’t need to. With a little preparation, milk-based recipes can stay on the menu, easier on developing digestive systems, and just as nourishing as before.
When preparing feeds, Lacteeze Infant Drops can be added to help break down lactose in milk, making it easier to digest for your little one. Lacteeze Infant Drops are a gentle, natural way to ease colic symptoms linked to lactose intolerance, with up to 45% reduction shown in clinical trials. So dairy can stay on the menu for custards, porridges, pancakes and beyond, even when your baby’s tummy is still figuring things out.
Understanding lactose digestion in babies
Lactose is the natural sugar found in milk and dairy products. To digest it, the body relies on an enzyme called lactase, which breaks lactose down into simple sugars that the gut can absorb easily.
Some babies produce lower levels of lactase, which can make digesting lactose more challenging. This may show up as wind, bloating, fussiness or loose stools after dairy-containing meals, particularly while the digestive system is still maturing in the early months of life.
If your baby is experiencing colic related symptoms, or you have concerns with their digestion, please speak with your GP or a child’s health nurse.
A gentler approach to dairy in baby food
Lactase enzyme drops offer a simple way to prepare dairy for use in homemade baby food. Added to milk and left overnight to work, the enzyme breaks lactose down into more easily digestible sugars before the milk is used in cooking, without changing the taste or the nutritional profile.
In Australia, Lacteeze Infant Drops are the lactase enzyme drops most parents reach for. Used as directed, they let you keep dairy in the kitchen while making it gentler on developing digestive systems.
How to prepare lactase-treated milk for cooking
The process is genuinely straightforward, most of the work is done by the fridge overnight.
- Add 4 drops of Lacteeze Infant Drops per 1 litre of milk.
- Stir well, then refrigerate overnight.
- Use the milk as you normally would in your recipe the next day.
Always follow the instructions on the Lacteeze Infant Drops packaging for correct usage and dosing.
In the kitchen with The Dom Dose
When it comes to making sensitive tummy cooking work for real families, The Dom Dose knows exactly what most parents need: under twenty minutes of prep, six ingredients or fewer, and recipes built for how little ones eat. She also happens to be one of the parents who reaches for Lacteeze Infant Drops when cooking with cow’s milk for her little one, pre-treating the milk the night before so it’s ready to go when the recipe is.
Three of her recipes are a great place to start:
Sensitive Tummy Custard Bowl (6–8 months+)
A soft, no-added-sugar custard built on Lacteeze-treated milk and finished with mashed banana or stewed fruit for natural sweetness. A gentle, classic introduction to dairy in solid form.
Baked Rice Pudding Muffins
The same creamy rice pudding base, baked into hand-held muffins with apple, egg and a touch of cinnamon. Built around milk pre-treated with Lacteeze Infant Drops the day before, they’re a lovely option for self-feeders learning to grip and bite.
Soft Peanut Banana Oat Slice (8 months+)
A make-ahead slice that pulls together pantry basics: oats, banana, egg, peanut butter and a splash of milk (prepared with Lacteeze Infant Drops the night before). Soft enough for developing chewing skills, sturdy enough for little hands, and freezer-friendly for busy weeks.
Important Reminder
Milk should not replace breastmilk or formula as a main drink for babies under 12 months. However, small amounts of dairy used in cooking, such as in custard, porridge or pancakes, are generally suitable for most babies from around 6 months, once solids are established. Always consult your healthcare provider if you have concerns about your baby’s digestion or dietary needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
If your baby seems sensitive to lactose, one option is to pre-treat dairy milk with lactase enzyme drops, such as Lacteeze Infant Drops, before using it in recipes. This breaks down the lactose in the milk, making it easier for your baby’s digestive system to handle. Always follow the product instructions, and speak with your GP or child health nurse if you have ongoing concerns.
No. Used as directed, the drops convert lactose into simple sugars that are easier to digest. The taste and nutritional value of the milk are unchanged.
Not significantly. Heat doesn’t break lactose down on its own, so simply baking or simmering with regular milk won’t make a meaningful difference for a sensitive baby. Pre-treating with lactase enzyme drops or using a lactose-free product is the more reliable approach.
Lacteeze Infant Drops are available from selected pharmacies across Australia. You can find your nearest stockist on the Lacteeze website.
