Infant Food AllergiesWhen introducing food to your baby, it is very important to be on the lookout for infant food allergies. This is a very exciting time for your baby and you, and hopefully feeding your little one is a fun process. Here are some guidelines to consider when introducing your baby to new foods.First of all, it is important to follow your doctor’s guidelines regarding the order and amount to feed your baby. Most of the time a rice cereal or vegetables are introduced first, followed by fruit, then yogurt and finally meat. It is very important to introduce each food 3 to 5 days apart to monitor for infant food allergies.
Which foods may my baby be allergic to? Technically a baby can be allergic to any food; however traditional baby foods are not common food allergens. Rice cereal, fruits, vegetables and meats are not very highly allergenic. Despite this, there is a small chance your baby may be allergic to one of these basic foods. The most common food allergies are milk, soy, and eggs. It is for this reason milk and egg whites are not recommended until your baby is 12 months old. Despite this, if your child is allergic to milk protein she will not tolerate milk based formula well. Since infants with milk allergy often have an allergy to soy as well, you may need to try a broken down formula to make them feel better. Introducing peanuts is not generally advised until your baby is 2 years old.
Symptoms of Food AllergiesHow do I know if my baby has food allergies?Infant food allergies can be difficult to spot because they do not generally result in very obvious symptoms. A baby allergic to milk on a milk or soy based formula may be very irritable or cranky, have blood in the stool or have diarrhea or constipation. She may develop a rash or hive on her face or body. The most important thing to do is recognize that this may be an allergy. So many infant food allergies go undiagnosed because parents and the physician don’t make the connection that the formula or food is making her sick. This is especially true to if it is the formula. Since your baby is constantly drinking bottles they are constantly sick, and often the thought that the formula may be the culprit falls by the wayside when trying to figure out what the problem is. The best thing to do when you suspect infant food allergies is to keep a food diary. Write down exactly what and when your child ate or drank, and what behaviors or symptoms they have and the time those symptoms appear. If you think it is your baby’s formula, ask your doctor for a different formula recommendation. If you are breastfeeding your baby, eliminate dairy and soy from your diet and see if she improves in about 2 weeks. If you can’t wait for this you can consider eliminating the possible offending foods, pump and dump for 2 weeks and give your baby formula for those 2 weeks. It takes 2 weeks for all traces of the eliminated food to leave your system, and thus your breast milk. Return to Common Food Allergies from Infant Food Allergies. Return to Feeding Underweight Children Home. New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave me a comment in the box below. |
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"Undiagnosed food allergies were the reason Michael refused to eat and this progressed to severe food refusal. We came to you desperate and not knowing where else to turn. During our first session you asked about food allergies and suddenly a light went off in my head. We got Michael tested and sure enough he was allergic to eggs, milk and soy. With your help we were able to eliminate the offending foods and although feeding times can still be tough we now know he is not in pain and are able to work through it with him and he has been able to gain weight." See more testimonials.
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