Introducing Allergenic Foods Safely: A Parent’s Guide
When it comes to introducing your baby to solid food, or weaning, you may feel excited to share interesting textures and tastes with your little one. It’s also understandable if you feel a little anxious about the potential for allergic reactions to any of the foods you try.
Introducing allergenic foods such as peanuts, eggs and dairy can be particularly worrying, since the risk of a reaction to these is higher than most other foods, but experts believe that it is a good idea to include these as part of an age-appropriate diet. There is even some research to suggest that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods could increase the risk of developing allergies.
Your Essential Guide to Weaning
At around the age of six months, most babies begin to show signs that they are ready to eat solid foods. Signs to look out for include being able to sit up, developing good head control and showing an interest in the food you are eating, by grabbing it from your plate, for instance. Before this age, your baby will be exclusively breastfed or bottle-fed and will get all the nutrients they need from their milk. Milk will continue to be their main source of nutrition for many months after weaning, when they are discovering food but are not reliant on it.
When you are introducing new foods, it is a good idea to give a milk feed first so that your baby is not hungry or frustrated by the experience. Starting with fruits and vegetables is common when weaning, and evidence suggests that introducing allergenic foods at this time is a good idea. It is important, however, to follow the advice of medical professionals, and if you have a strong history of allergies in your family, you may be advised to follow different guidelines.
Many people offer a piece of banana or avocado to begin weaning, as these are interesting textures for babies to explore. If you’re doing baby-led weaning, you can simply allow your little one to discover the food for themselves, picking it up and chewing on it. If you prefer to spoon-feed with purees, you can make these from most fruits and vegetables and freeze small amounts in ice cube trays for future use. See our range of Weaning products.
Top Weaning Tips
Here’s how to introduce foods to your baby:
1. Pick your moment. When you begin introducing solids, choose a time when your child is not too tired and minimise distractions so that your baby is fully involved in the process. Remember that milk is still the main source of nutrition for your baby, and food is just offered as a supplement to this until at least the age of one year.
2. Begin with one food at a time. It is a good idea to introduce just one food at a time when you begin weaning, because this will enable you to identify adverse reactions immediately. You can keep a diary of the foods you offer, and this will allow you to note down the foods your baby seems to like and dislike so that you can keep track of any changes. Once your baby is comfortable with single foods, you can begin to combine them.
3. Pay attention to expert advice. Expert advice informs current guidelines, including the best ways to introduce allergenic foods. It is recommended to try offering your child peanut butter rather than whole peanuts, for instance, to reduce the risk of choking. It is also recommended that you do not delay introducing certain foods due to concerns about allergic reactions, as this may actually increase the risk of developing allergies.
4. Give new foods regularly. If your baby has tolerated a new food, you can keep offering it and include it in your baby’s diet routinely. Research shows that it is helpful to eat new foods several times a week in order to reduce the chances of developing an allergy.
5. Be alert to reactions. When you offer a new food, it is important that you monitor your baby for signs of an adverse reaction. This might include a rash, swelling of the face or lips, difficulty breathing or stomach upset. If you are concerned about a particular food, you should stop offering it and seek medical advice immediately.
6. Offer easily digestible options. When weaning, it’s a good idea to ensure that foods are as easy to digest as possible. This includes eggs, which should be well-cooked, and yoghurts or cheese rather than uncooked cow’s milk, as this is less likely to cause an allergic reaction.
7. Start small. There’s no need to begin introducing three meals a day while your baby is still very young. Start by offering just a teaspoon of puree or a stick of fruit or vegetable for your baby to explore. Offering solids once a day is enough to begin with, and this will enable your baby’s digestive system to gradually adapt to the new foods.
Introducing Allergenic Foods
The main point to remember is that there is no strong evidence to suggest that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods can prevent allergies, and it is possible that delaying their introduction may increase the risk of allergies developing. Symptoms of allergic reactions can range from mild to severe, including anaphylaxis, so it is important to be alert to these. Symptoms may affect:
• the stomach, including vomiting and diarrhoea or cramps, or
• the respiratory system, including wheezing, breathing problems and coughing, or
• the skin, including hives or swelling.
Introducing new foods, particularly those that carry a higher risk of allergy, can be challenging, so it is a good idea to introduce one food at a time and keep a record of how these are tolerated. You may wish to seek individual advice if you have a family history of food allergies or if your child has eczema. Remember that it is possible to develop a food allergy at any age, so it is always important to take unusual reactions seriously and seek medical attention immediately if you or your child experiences any swelling of the face or lips or difficulty breathing.
Take Care of Your Family at WonderCare
At WonderCare, we understand that caring for babies and children can raise many questions, and we are here to help you find the support you need. We have the products and expertise to guide you from pre-conception to birth and early parenthood, throughout childhood and the teenage years. Our friendly Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians are available to share their expertise, and you are always welcome to visit us in-store.
We have a comprehensive range of skincare and healthcare products for babies, children and adults, as well as hair and beauty products and gift sets for all the family. We will always be happy to help you choose the best options for your budget, and we can offer lifestyle and dietary advice to support you and your family. We deliver across Ireland, Northern Ireland and the UK, and we offer free shipping on orders over €40.
