Have you decided to introduce solid foods to your baby? Every mother awaits this moment. But before you take this step, you need to read this article to learn about food allergies.
At the beginning, you will need to introduce solid foods gradually. Introduce one food kind at a time. This way, if any kind of food causes an allergy, you can easily detect it. On the other hand, if you introduce three different foods at the same time and it has an allergic reaction, you will not be able to identify which one caused it. Wait three to five days before introducing a new one. Do not stop the foods you used before because they have proven to be safe.
The way you prepare the food or present it will not make a big difference. What matters is that the meal is balanced and healthy.
What are the most well-known foods to cause allergies?
Food allergy may be triggered by any new food. There are more than 160 kinds of food that may cause allergies, but some have a higher chance to cause allergies than others. Here is a list of foods that cause allergies in 90% of children.
• Milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Nuts such as walnuts and almonds
• Fish
• Shells
• Soy
• Wheat
What are allergy symptoms?
Symptoms usually appear after several minutes to a few hours. So, when you introduce a new food, you have to watch for these symptoms:
• Red spots on the skin
• Rash or redness on the skin
• Swelling of the face, tongue or lips
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Difficulty breathing
• Fainting
When to call a doctor?
Some allergies are dangerous, which is why you should call the doctor immediately if your child is having difficulty breading associated with wheezing in its chest or swollen lips and face, especially if the baby is having severe diarrhea after food.
How to deal with mild allergic reactions?
If you notice your child is having mild symptoms such as rash, you’ll need to call the doctor to check. If your child does have allergy, the doctor will tell you how to deal with it, what foods to avoid and what you need to do if your baby accidentally eats them.
Remember that allergic reactions may be mild the first time, but could worsen later on. That’s why you should discuss with the doctor any allergy symptoms you notice on your baby. Some allergies may disappear over time, such as allergy to milk, while others may persist such as allergies triggered by peanuts, nuts and shells.
In general, if there is one type of allergy that is common in the family, there’s a big chance that your baby may have it. If you have a specific allergy, the chance that your baby will have it is 50%.