Babies are very sensitive to food intake, so you should watch out for symptoms of food allergies in babies. Food allergies occur when the body produces antibodies to a certain protein which is harmless. You usually have allergies because of inheritance. It is fairly easy to recognize the symptoms if your baby has food allergy. You will see noticeable changes on your baby right after taking meals which he is allergic to.

 

Common Allergy-causing Foods

There are foods that are commonly tagged as allergy inducing for babies such as milk, eggs, and nuts. Milk is the most common food allergen in children. They are allergic to the protein that is involved in cow’s milk, which is the most common content of commercial baby formulas. They will outgrow it by age four but some kids will outgrow it by the age of eight. As time goes by, they will develop a tolerance for milk. Babies that are breastfed are least likely to have milk allergy. Most babies are allergic to eggs; the body produces antibodies to oust egg proteins, same as the milk. But the tolerance to eggs will be developed over time. If you aren’t certain if your baby is allergic to eggs, try checking if they are itching around the mouth, or if they start to wheeze, after eating eggs. Most paediatricians advise against feeding babies with eggs before one year of age.

Next thing is nuts. Having peanut allergy is very common. It usually develops during a baby’s first year. Unlike milk allergy and egg allergy, which can be outgrown, peanut allergy can last forever. This can go to both extremes: it can give you minor allergic reactions to peanuts, or it can lead to anaphylaxis and life-threatening reactions.

 

There are other sources of food allergies in babies like;

• Seafood and shellfish – This is one of the most common allergies out there, and one you can’t outgrow.

• Soy – soybeans, legumes, and the like. This is more prevalent in babies than in children. Most kids who are allergic to cow’s milk are more likely to be allergic to soy.

 

Symptoms of Food Allergies in Babies

You won’t know instantly if your baby has certain food allergies up until you see changes. Almost all of the symptoms are noticeable, if you know what to look for.

• Eczema – This is the inflammation of the outer layer of the skin. The term eczema is a term used for a wide array of skin conditions, specifically recurring skin problems. You would know that your baby has eczema if the rashes are recurring and dry, also if it is very red, and is swelling and itchy. Other symptoms include crusting, flaking, blistering, oozing, or bleeding.

• Other symptoms include itchy mouth and throat, rashes, cramping, nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea; hives, wheezing, sneezing, runny nose, unusual crying, rhinitis, and shortness of breath.

 

How to Reduce the Risk of Food Allergies in Babies

Babies cannot properly digest food until four to six months of age. It is safe to say that you should only give solids to your baby in his sixth month; until then you should just breastfeed your baby and stick to formulas (although some babies are allergic to cow’s milk). Apply the four-day wait rule. This is the safest way for one to know if a baby is allergic to some foods. Give him one solid food to consume then wait three to four days, if he doesn’t show any signs of being allergic then it is safe to give him that particular solid.

As a parent you should know when to give your baby the food he needs. Following these recommendations also reduces the risk of your baby being allergic. Meat, egg yolk, and soy products should come on the eighth month your baby. Cheese, yogurt, milk (cow’s milk), legumes should come on the ninth month. Foods such as egg whites, fish, tomatoes, citrus fruits, and strawberries should come in the first year of your baby. To make sure that your baby won’t be allergic to foods such as chocolates, seafood, honey, and all peanut products, they should be delayed as much as possible due to high allergic reactions.

 

How to Treat Food Allergies in Babies

Breastfeeding is one way to avoid food allergies in babies, but it is not exactly foolproof. What you eat is what your baby eats. So even if you don’t directly give your baby some cow’s milk, but you recently drank a tall glass of it, your baby is sure to get it.

Prevention is better than cure; this holds true here. No matter how much you tend to the needs of your baby when he is already allergic, the best way to avoid an allergic reaction is by not giving him food high allergens. Be cautious. You aren’t the only person interacting with your baby. Make sure that those people around you are properly oriented to only give the right food to your baby.

No matter how much you take care of your baby it is impossible to do it on your own. You will need an expert opinion from a doctor. Be sure to visit and ask your paediatrician about your baby, and also you need to ask for guidelines about your own diet. It is very important to ask questions.

 

Questions to Ask on your Paediatrician

• Ask about the preventive measures you can take to reduce allergic reactions

• Ask about what foods you should take to avoid possible allergic reaction through transmission

• Ask about food alternatives

• Ask if getting immunotherapy shots are recommended for child allergies

• Ask about over-the-counter medications you can purchase

• Ask your doctors opinion on natural methods of treating allergies.

 

Food allergies have become a trend, not just for babies but for adults also. In fact, kids today think that having a certain kind of allergy is a status symbol. Food allergy is also being mistaken for poisoning. In reality, food allergies are defensive reactions of the body that starts at a very young age. Some food allergies can be outgrown and some just stay forever. Some of them might result in skin problems, asthma, anaphylaxis, or death. It is of great importance that you know what kinds of food are high in allergens, what food is safe for your baby and what is not. You should start paying attention to food labels on everything that you purchase. It is very important to notice everything that is happening in your baby because symptoms of food allergies in babies are no laughing matter.