Kids often complain of tummy issues which can cause their parents to stress and worry— especially when they can’t tell you exactly what’s wrong yet. However, tummy and digestion issues are quite common in children, so there’s no need to worry too much.
According to a study published in The Philippine Journal of Pediatrics in 2002, 50% of healthy Filipino children are prone to experience recurrent abdominal pain. These pains can be caused by a number of reasons like they are not able to absorb lactose well1 because their tummies are still developing. Different studies show that depending on their age, digestion issues in children manifest as follows:
For ages one to three: Diarrhea, colic, and fussiness.2,3
For ages three and above, it can show up as allergies, crying, gassiness or bloated feeling, and lactose malabsorption.2,3
Unfortunately, these digestion issues can possibly derail their growth and development.
Causes of Digestion Issues in your Kids
What could possibly cause these digestion issues to happen? One of the first things you can investigate is their diet and lifestyle.
Some digestion issues can be caused by anxiety. Are there big or sudden changes in your family’s lifestyle? Even the slightest change in routine can create tummy issues in children.
Another possible cause for digestion issues is Lactose intolerance.
Lactose is a type of sugar found primarily in milk and dairy products. Lactose intolerance, something that is completely different from a milk allergy, means that your child does not have enough enzymes in their tummy to break down the lactose in their milk or other milk products. This can manifest as constipation, diarrhea, or even gassiness which can cause tummy pain for your child.4
Milk: Can it Help Improve Digestion?
In the event that your child does experience lactose intolerance, this does not mean that you should cut out milk and milk products completely from their diet. Milk is still an important part of your child’s diet to help in their optimum growth and development which is why choosing the right milk formula for their sensitive tummies is essential.
It might be time to explore milk that is specially formulated for sensitive tummies. These kinds of milk can be made with reduced lactose and Partially Hydrolyzed Proteins (PHP). PHP is a kind of protein that goes through a special process to break it down to smaller pieces that are easier to digest.This is especially helpful in improving digestion for kids who have more sensitive tummies.
Final Note
Children with digestive issues may have more problems when it comes to growth and development. That’s why more attention should be placed on their lifestyle and diet, making sure that they don’t miss out on any of the essential nutrients they need. Choosing the right milk formula for them could be a big step in helping make sure they grow up with a healthy digestive system.
That’s why you should give your child the new Enfagrow Gentlease 3+! It has all the right nutrients for their sensitive tummies. It has reduced lactose and PHP (partially hydrolyzed proteins) which are smaller proteins for easy digestion vs. regular cow’s milk. It also has a special blend of nutrients such as MFGM and DHA, to help support brain development with proper nutrition and stimulation. It also has HMO 2-FL which helps support your child’s healthy gut microbiome with proper nutrition and stimulation.
You can make sure that your child, despite their sensitive tummy, is able to help reach their optimal growth and development with proper nutrition and stimulation with the new Enfagrow Gentlease 3+!
For more details, visit www.enfagrow.com.ph or follow the Enfagrow Facebook page to learn more.
ASC Ref Code M134P101122ES
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References:
1 Sio-Aguilar J. MD et.al. Lactose Malabsorption Among Healthy Filipino Children. The Philippine Journal of Pediatrics, Vol 51. No 4 October-December 2002.
2 IMF Patient Pathway March 2022 (consumer research, sample size of 670 moms with children under S1-S4 and includes 90 users of GI PHF formula)
3 Quantitative online digestive concerns survey. Moms with babies from 0-12 months. Intuit Research Agency. July 2019. Scope: MX, PH, TH, US, CN. N=200 per market.
4 Lactose Intolerance in Children, available at www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&contentid=p02003#:~:text=If%20your%20 child%20is%20 lactose,from%20cow's%20milk%20protein%20intolerance Accessed on 26 August 2022