Is your infant affected by food allergies? Though food allergies only affect a small number of children, as a parent you should find a way to avoid them.
Infants who are not exposed to cow’s milk, peanuts and eggs during their infancy have a reduced chance of developing baby eczema and food allergies in the first two years of life.
The common food allergic reactions include: rash, runny nose, difficulty in breathing, hives, watery eyes, vomiting and headaches.
If you or your partner has food allergies, you should take necessary precautions in avoiding the allergies before affecting your child.
Here are some tips to reduce infant food allergies:
- Breastfeeding is best for your infant for at least one year. If you want to use a milk-free formula, you should rather ask your doctor.
- Avoid allergy-causing foods like milk, eggs and peanuts while nursing your baby.
- Don’t introduce solid foods until the infant is at least 6 months old.
- Introduce the foods that minimally cause an allergic reaction. For example, bananas and rice cereals cause a less allergic reaction. Oats and barley can also be given before introducing corn and wheat.
- Introduce new foods gradually. It is essential to introduce new food only one at a time. This is particularly essential if there is a family history of allergies. When you feed your baby with a new food, continue the food in your baby’s diet for one week before introducing another one.
Foods to avoid that cause food allergy
There are some foods that can cause food allergy in your infant. Feeding your baby with some foods like eggs, dietary products, nuts, wheat, fish, shellfish, soy and nuts during the early stages of life can cause food allergies.
Most young babies will grow out of the allergies as they age. However, some allergies to fish, nuts and shellfish exist throughout their lives.
Digestive problems in your child are mainly due to the early introduction of solid foods and 8% of children suffer from these types of food allergies.
Careful introduction to new foods and observing the reactions to them can protect your baby’s life. Also, read all the food labels carefully before giving them to your baby.
