A 2-year-old throwing up after milk could have a milk allergy (immune reaction to milk protein) or lactose intolerance (difficulty digesting milk sugar), causing symptoms like vomiting, stomach pain, or diarrhea. Other causes might be gastroenteritis, reflux, or a digestive issue like pyloric stenosis, but a doctor should diagnose the cause, as milk allergy needs complete removal from the diet, while lactose intolerance might just need reduced dairy.
An allergic reaction usually happens soon after you or your child consumes milk. Symptoms of milk allergy range from mild to severe and can include wheezing, vomiting, hives and digestive problems. Milk allergy also can cause anaphylaxis, a severe, life-threatening reaction.
Key points about lactose intolerance in children
Your child may have uncomfortable symptoms, such as bloating, gas, and an upset stomach after eating or drinking milk or milk products. Have your child see a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. You can manage your child's symptoms by limiting foods that have lactose.
Lactose intolerance is when the body can't easily break down or digest lactose. Lactose is a sugar found in milk and milk products. If your child is lactose intolerant, your child may have unpleasant symptoms after eating or drinking milk products. These symptoms include bloating, diarrhea, and gas.
What Can I Do if My Child Is Vomiting?
Speak to your GP if:
their vomit is green or contains blood. they have been vomiting for more than a day or two. your child is vomiting and has symptoms of an infection such as a high temperature (fever) and irritability. you're worried about your child.
Offering a bland diet, like crackers and soups. Giving your child stool softeners, like MiraLAX® to ease constipation (see other ways to prevent and treat constipation in kids) Giving your child upset stomach medicine for children, like Pepto kids. Mixing a probiotic in your child's water, which may help stop diarrhea.
Common symptoms include:
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and lactose intolerance can seem similar. The symptoms they cause are nearly identical. But there are distinct differences in why they happen and how you handle them.
Signs and symptoms of lactose intolerance in babies
Diarrhoea or constipation. Being unsettled at feeding times, coming on and off the breast. Frequent crying. Loose, watery faeces (may be green/yellow in colour)
Watch for blood or green/brown vomit, projectile vomiting, severe pain, signs of dehydration (dry mouth, no tears, less urination), high fever, lethargy, stiff neck, or vomiting after a head injury, as these are key red flags needing urgent medical attention, especially for infants or when vomiting persists beyond 24 hours without diarrhea, indicating potentially serious issues like obstruction, infection, or metabolic problems.
Some individuals with lactose intolerance may experience nausea and even vomiting after consuming dairy products. This is a more severe symptom of lactose intolerance.
Offer clear liquids after your child has not vomited for 30 to 60 minutes. This gives the stomach time to rest. Breastfeeding should not be stopped. Try to nurse your baby more often.
Here are some common symptoms that may signal lactose intolerance in your child: Diarrhea or very foul-smelling stools, which may increase in frequency with the quantity of lactose your child consumes. Stomach pain, cramps or nausea, with vomiting in some extreme cases. Bloating or gas after consuming dairy products.
More severe reflux can cause your baby to cry and be sick, often after feeding. The long name for severe reflux is gastro-oesophageal reflux disease (GORD). This means that when your baby's tummy is full, food and stomach acid flows back up their food pipe causing discomfort and pain.
People with lactose intolerance often experience symptoms within 30 minutes to two hours after ingesting lactose. However, not all dairy products contain the same amount of lactose, making some foods more challenging to digest than others.
Continued Digestive Discomfort: Ignoring lactose intolerance can result in ongoing digestive discomfort, including bloating, cramps, and abdominal pain. These symptoms may persist or worsen over time, affecting your daily life and overall comfort.
The former Disney Channel star tweeted that she has “a gluten and lactose allergy” on April 8 in response to accusations of an eating disorder. “It's not about weight it's about health,” she tweeted.
Can You Eat Yogurt if You're Lactose Intolerant? Yes!
Common Foods to Avoid if Lactose Intolerant
In addition to your meal, drink a large 12 fl. oz. glass of fat free regular milk. Over the next 3 hours after drinking the glass of milk, keep track of any discomfort you experience (gas, bloating, cramping, diarrhea) and its intensity using the Day 1 test checklist above.
Primary (caused by diminishing lactase production in your small intestine). Secondary (caused by injury or disease that damages your small intestine). Congenital (caused by lactase deficiency present at birth). Developmental (caused by premature birth, when the small intestine is underdeveloped).
Replacing fluids.
Appendicitis symptoms
Symptoms associated with abdominal pain
Call your doctor if you have severe stomach pain, sharp stomach pain, if your stomach pain does not improve in 24 to 48 hours or if you also have: Chest pain (get prompt medical attention) Bloating or swelling that lasts more than a few days.