Starting solids is such a fun and exciting time for parents and their little ones. Along with new foods come new flavors, textures, and opportunities to make messes. But it can also be a time of uncertainty for parents concerned about their baby having an allergic reaction to a new food. Here are our top tips on how to introduce common allergens to your baby.
What Are the Most Allergic Foods for Babies?
While any food can potentially cause an allergic reaction, the biggest culprits for babies are:
- Cow milk (Remember not to give cow’s milk to babies under 1 year old. You can introduce products made with cow milk such as yogurt and cheese earlier)
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Soy
- Wheat
- Tree nuts (such as walnuts, pistachios, pecans, etc.)
- Fish
- Shellfish
About 5 percent of children have food allergies, and around 40 percent of children with a food allergy are allergic to more than one food. Certain allergies, such as those to milk, egg, wheat and soy may resolve throughout childhood.
How Should I Introduce My Baby to Allergenic Foods?
As you begin to introduce new foods to your little one—whether they’re considered common allergens or not—it’s recommended to introduce one single ingredient from any food group every three to five days. This will help ensure that if an allergic reaction happens, you’ll know exactly which food caused it. It’s important to note there is no evidence that supports waiting until little one is older in order to prevent a food allergy from forming. Once you start feeding your baby solids, you can begin to introduce potential allergens as well.
To introduce a potential allergen, give your baby only a tiny amount of the new food to minimize a potential allergic reaction. If no reaction occurs, you can slowly work up to larger servings. For instance, you might mix in 1/8 teaspoon of yogurt or peanut butter to baby’s oatmeal during the first introduction. If baby has no reaction, you can then increase to a teaspoon and so on. Once an allergy is ruled out, it’s important to continue to offer the food to baby weekly to minimize the development of a future allergy.
Another tip? Introduce new foods to your little one early in the day. While most allergic reactions happen within minutes, they can be delayed by as much as two hours. Exposing baby to a potential allergen in the morning will allow you to keep an eye out for any symptoms throughout the day.
What If My Baby Has an Increased Risk to Food Allergies?
If your little one is high-risk for food allergies based on family history or reactions to other foods, you should speak with your little one’s provider about a plan to introduce certain allergens. For instance, babies that have moderate to severe eczema and/or an egg allergy are more at-risk for a peanut allergy. Your baby’s provider may recommend an allergy evaluation prior to introducing certain foods, or may require the introduction of certain allergens in a supervised setting.
How Do I Know if My Baby Is Having an Allergic Reaction?
There are several different signs and symptoms to watch for after introducing baby to a new food, including:
- Breathing problems such as wheezing, throat tightness, or sneezing
- Itching or swelling of the lips, tongue, mouth or throat
- Stomach symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or blood in baby’s stool
- Circulation issues such as pale skin, light-headedness or loss of consciousness
- Skin problems such as hives or itchy rashes
If you suspect that your child is having a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis, call 911 to get help immediately. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening reaction, and can include trouble breathing, shortness of breath, swelling of the face and throat, and vomiting. If your little one has an epinephrine auto-injector, use it while waiting for medical care to arrive.
If you notice symptoms that are not immediately life threatening, it’s important to pay close attention to see if any more serious symptoms develop over time. In the meantime, contact your child’s provider to speak with them about what food they ate, what symptoms they’re showing, and what the next steps should be.
Even if your child isn’t considered high-risk for a food allergy, it’s always important to be prepared for a reaction when introducing a new food. Be sure that all of baby’s caretakers are aware of how you would like to handle new food introductions, and that they know the signs and symptoms of an allergic reaction. Enjoy introducing your baby to the new world of solids!