🚼✨ Introducing solids to your little one? Don’t let food allergies keep you up at night! Discover essential tips and signs to watch for in this latest blog post! Your baby’s health is worth it! 🥦🥕 #BabyFoodAllergies #ParentingTips #HealthyEating

What is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies a harmless food protein as a threat. This triggers an immune response that can lead to various symptoms. Common allergens include milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, and shellfish.

Symptoms of food allergy

Your baby might have an allergy to a food if they eat it and then have 1 or more of the following symptoms:

• Hives – These are raised or puffy areas of skin that are itchy
• Flushing
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Swelling, especially of the face, eyelids, lips, or tongue
• Trouble breathing, noisy breathing (wheezing), or coughing
• Looking sick, or not acting normally

These symptoms often start quickly, usually minutes to 1 hour after having the food. Call the doctor or nurse if your child has any of these symptoms.

When to introduce highly allergenic foods

Doctors used to think it was better to delay certain foods if a baby was at high risk for allergy. However, recent studies suggested that early introduction of highly allergenic foods may actually decrease the risk of food allergy.

Infants should be at least four months of age, be developmentally ready, and have tolerated a few less allergenic complementary foods – read more here.

How to introduce highly allergenic foods

It is recommended to give highly allergenic foods in the following manner:

• Give your baby an initial taste of one of these foods at home, rather than at day care or at a restaurant.
• If there is no apparent reaction, you can give the food in gradually increasing amounts. Once you have introduced a highly allergenic food, you should continue to feed that food regularly in your child’s diet.
• Consult your child’s health care provider if your child has signs of an allergic reaction after eating a food or has moderate to severe eczema that is difficult to control. An allergy evaluation may be suggested in these cases.
• Call for emergency help if your baby has symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, like trouble breathing or passing out.

Cow’s milk can be introduced through yogurt and cheese. In general, liquid cow’s milk should not be given to a child until after age 12 months, because it does not have the nutritional value of breast milk or formula.

Peanut and tree nuts can be introduced by spreading a thin layer of puréed peanut or tree nut butter on other foods or mixing with fruits or vegetables; whole peanut or tree nuts should not be given to babies, because of the choking risk.

Conclusion

Navigating baby food allergies can feel overwhelming at times, but with careful observation and guidance from healthcare professionals, you can ensure your little one has a safe and enjoyable introduction to solid foods. Remember that every child is unique—what works for one may not work for another. Stay informed and trust your instincts as a parent!

Reference: https://www.uptodate.com/contents/introducing-highly-allergenic-foods-to-infants?sectionName=Standard-risk%20infants&search=baby%20food%20choking&topicRef=2855&anchor=H748165994&source=see_link#H2094047892

Related: When Should My Baby Start Solid Foods?, What Food And Drinks Should My Baby Avoid?, What Should I Know About Baby Food Allergy?, Does My Baby Need Mineral/Vitamin Supplements?, Mother’s Nutrition During Breastfeeding and For Parents