Many parents consider the risk of baby food allergies to be one of the most concerning aspects of introducing new foods to their babies. But there are simple steps you can take to minimize potential problems and make your child’s introduction to solid foods safe and happy.
Allergic reactions occur when your baby’s immune system mistakenly treats a harmless substance as harmful. Symptoms of a baby food allergy include diarrhea, eczema, nausea, constipation, and red or watery eyes. Very rarely, a serious reaction known as allergic shock can occur. This can cause the throat and tongue to swell dangerously, which could lead to choking. In this situation, professional medical help should be sought immediately.
Baby food allergies should not be confused with food intolerance. A baby with a food intolerance would have difficulty digesting a particular type of food, which can be caused by many other things besides an allergen. In any case, the diagnosis must be made by a medical professional.
To prevent baby food allergies like these, or to identify the foods your baby reacts to, it’s important to follow these simple guidelines:
1. Try to delay feeding your baby solid foods until he or she is at least 6 months old. Your immune system will be better developed at this stage.
2. Only introduce one new food at a time and wait a few days to see if a reaction occurs. Then it will be easy to spot the “problem” food and eliminate it from your baby’s diet.
3. Avoid foods that are known to be more likely to cause allergic reactions. Examples of such foods include eggs (particularly egg whites), shellfish, gluten, and citrus fruits.
4. Decide whether or not your baby is at particularly high risk of developing allergies; for example, do you suffer from an allergy? This can often lead to an increased risk of allergies for your baby, although not necessarily to the same allergen (ie the substance responsible for the reaction).
5. Discuss any concerns with a medical professional.
While it’s important to be cautious, it’s important to remember that baby food allergies only affect about 8% of children. So try to keep things in perspective, introduce new foods individually and keep an eye out for possible reactions; these steps will give you the confidence to safely introduce solid food delicacies to its little.