Introducing Potentially Allergenic Foods to Your Baby

Starting your baby on solid foods can be exciting but also a little nerve-wracking, especially if you have any food allergies yourself. In today’s post, I’ll go over potential allergenic foods and what the latest research says about how best to introduce these to your baby.

What is a food allergy?

A food allergy is an immune response that occurs when the body reacts to a protein found in a certain food. Symptoms of food allergies include:

• Skin problems such as hives, eczema, swelling, or itching

• Wheezing, throat tightness, or trouble breathing

• Nausea, vomiting, and/or diarrhea

Severe cases of food allergies are called anaphylaxis and require immediate medical attention.

Food allergies are sometimes confused with food intolerances, which can have some of the same symptoms listed above but are not caused by the immune system.

What foods can cause food allergies?

The nine most common foods that can cause food allergies are:

• Dairy

• Eggs

• Fish

• Peanuts

• Sesame

• Shellfish

• Soy

• Tree nuts

• Wheat

It is estimated that 1 in 13 children have a food allergy. Children may outgrow food allergies as they get older but sometimes these are lifelong.

How to introduce potential allergens

It was previously thought that the foods listed above shouldn’t be introduced until babies were older to prevent the development of food allergies. However, it is now recommended that potentially allergenic foods should be introduced at the same time a baby starts eating solid foods, around 4-6 months. It is recommended to introduce the foods listed above before babies turn 1 year old to lower the risk of them developing a food allergy.

With all foods, including potential allergens, be sure to just introduce one new food at a time, then wait 3-5 days before trying something else. If you’re at all concerned about your baby developing a food allergy, be sure to talk with their pediatrician.

Some babies are at a higher risk of developing food allergies and may benefit from trying certain foods, like peanuts, at the doctor’s office, just in case of an allergic reaction. Risk factors for developing food allergies include having eczema or having a parent or sibling with a food allergy.

Hopefully, this helps clear up any confusion with introducing potentially allergenic foods to your baby! Though it can be a bit scary, most babies do just fine with all foods. If you are worried about your baby developing a food allergy, talk to their pediatrician for guidance.