Allergies are very common and can cause serious reactions. A baby’s digestive and immune systems must be sufficiently developed before solid foods are introduced. Introducing solid foods too soon or introducing foods that are likely to cause problems too soon will stress the baby’s immature systems. When introducing solid foods, you must take into account the possibility of allergic reactions. This article presents the symptoms of allergic reactions and how to minimize them in babies.

In recent years there has been an increased awareness of the number of diseases and ailments that can be caused or contributed to by the presence of allergies. Allergies are very common. Conservative estimates are that twenty percent of the population is allergic to something. However, when we consider minor allergies such as hay fever, minor eczema, and food intolerances, the true incidence of allergies or intolerances can be much higher. Changes in the Western diet over the last 100 to 200 years, particularly the refining of foods, the use of food additives, and the increased consumption of animal products and the presence of environmental pollution, are believed to have contributed substantially to the prevalence of all forms of allergic disease.

What is an allergy?

The word means an “altered reaction” and an allergic person often experiences physical symptoms (such as headaches and migraines, vomiting, rashes, asthma) when they come into contact with substances to which they are sensitive. The substance that causes the reaction is called an allergen and can be house dust, dog or cat fur, food(s), chemical(s) or bacteria, to name just a few. In this article we are looking at food allergies.

When solid foods are introduced, a baby may have an “allergic reaction” to wheat, for example, and develop diarrhoea, abdominal cramps, moodiness, a runny nose or even a mild ear infection, asthma or eczema. The cause of these symptoms is often not recognized and may even be treated as a transient infection if the problem is a runny nose or ear pain. The offending food will continue to be offered and the baby usually recovers from the acute symptoms, although relatively minor symptoms may persist. At some later stage (days, months, years later), either after periods of infection or stress or simply due to a gradual failure to stay healthy, symptoms develop.

If the food is withdrawn, the symptoms usually go away within three to five days, although sometimes, especially in children, this can take up to three weeks. There may also be marked withdrawal symptoms that eventually go away.

When introducing new foods to infants and young children, you must be aware of the symptoms of allergies. This is particularly the case when parents or other family members have food allergies.

What does a food allergy look like in a baby or toddler?

The symptoms associated with food allergies are myriad and can mimic a wide range of different clinical conditions. It depends on the baby or toddler. Some of the symptoms that infants and young children develop include:

• itchy mouth and throat,
• rashes, eczema and hives,
• cramps and colic,
• nausea and vomiting,
• diarrhea or constipation,
• wheezing, sneezing, runny nose,
• unusual crying,
• difficulty breathing,
• hyperactivity, and
• sleep disorders.

In extreme cases, a child can develop a life-threatening condition called anaphylactic shock. Severe symptoms or reactions to any allergen require immediate medical attention.

What are the common causes of food allergies?

Foods that are most likely to cause an allergy include:

• wheat, rye, oats, barley, maize (maize),
• cow’s milk and other dairy products,
• chicken eggs and chicken meat,
• cane and beet sugar,
• fish and shellfish,
• misery,
• dyes and preservatives,
• yeast,
• Pork
• chocolate
• citric fruits.

What can you do?

Here are two things you can do as a parent to reduce your baby’s susceptibility to food allergies and reduce the severity of food allergies:

• Wait until your baby is at least 6 months old to introduce solid foods.
• Apply the 4-day waiting rule when introducing new foods to your baby.

Wait until your baby is 6 months old

Babies are not born with adult digestive systems and cannot handle food and will not digest it properly until their digestive systems have matured, between 4 and 6 months of age. Before that, your baby should only drink breast milk or formula. Waiting until your baby is 6 months old to feed solids will give your baby the best chance of being able to digest the food, and gentle digestion reduces the risk of allergies.

The 4 day waiting rule

When you start feeding your baby solids, you need to make sure the food is not causing a reaction. Sometimes it can take three or four days for a reaction to appear.

Introduce one food at a time and then wait four days before introducing another food.

It is worth keeping a food diary, noting which foods are introduced and when. This information can be invaluable later on if your baby develops some sort of reaction that could be attributed to infection or discomfort or wind or whatever, even though it may actually be a food reaction. By also watching when particular problems start, you can often identify the problem food, exclude it from your baby’s diet, and have a happy, healthy baby.

If there is a family history of food intolerance, it is recommended that the introduction of cow’s milk or wheat be avoided until the baby is twelve months old or even older. (If you introduce these foods at all, but that’s another problem.)

Allergies are very common and can cause serious reactions. A baby’s digestive and immune systems must be sufficiently developed before solid foods are introduced. Introducing solid foods too soon or introducing foods that are likely to cause problems too soon will stress the baby’s immature systems. When introducing solid foods, you should be aware of the possibility of allergic reactions, and if you are worried about a reaction, stop giving this food and allow the baby to mature longer. While the above details are intended to be generally helpful and educational, they should not be construed as a substitute for individual advice from a healthcare professional. You should seek professional help if your child’s allergy is sudden, extreme, long-lasting, or does not improve.

References

Bland, J. 1996, Contemporary Nutrition. J&B Associates.

Davies, S. and A. Stewart, 1997, Nutritional Medicine. Pop.

Elliot, N. 2004, Green Peace. Practical parenting.

Holden, S., Hudson, K., Tilman, J. & D. Wolf, 2003, Nature’s Ultimate Guide to Health. Astrology publication.

Pressman, A. and S. Buff, 2000, The Complete Idiot’s Guide to Vitamins and Minerals. (2nd ed.) Alpha Books.

Soothill, R. 1996, The Vitamin and Mineral Choice Guide. A choice book publication.

Sullivan, K. 2002, Vitamins and Minerals: A Practical Approach to a Healthy Diet and Safe Supplementation. HarperCollins.