Giving your baby their first solid food is a provocative milestone for parents. How exciting is it to watch them nibble and gnaw away at an avocado?
As intriguing as it may seem, this significant turning point comes with concerns of allergic reactions. How do we get a heads-up on these allergens, avoid them, and make sure that there is less or no chance of susceptibility?
In consonance with the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (AAAAI), food sensitivity affects 6% of all new-borns aged 0-2 years. The number of exemplifications and cases have drastically increased up to an astonishing 50% from 1997 up until 2011. Reasons for hypersensitivity are unknown; however, we know it affects us, parents, as much as it hurts our babies.
dhanelle / Pixabay : Kid on a picnic eating food
Emerging investigations show that introducing various kinds of food to your baby’s diet would reduce the risk of allergy. It would help boost their immune system and build acceptability to new nutriments. Still, there aren’t enough proven studies, so you should consult your pediatrician to understand what’s best for their tiny little tummies!
Read on to be well-informed on everything related to food allergies in babies.
What Provokes Sensitivity to Food in Babies?
Scientists and researchers cannot fully comprehend the reasons and causes as to why some children develop sensitivity to certain kinds of food. A family recapitulation and history of eczema, allergy, and hay fever upsurges the risks and concerns. Even if your baby has never tasted peanuts, they could develop an allergy to it through your breast milk.
Notches and Pegs That Signal an Allergy
Since eczema, popularly known asdermatitis/rashes, is the earliest signal of an allergic reaction, it should be taken seriously. Also, watch out for asthma, breathing difficulty, or sudden fever and rise in temperature. Other symptoms include twitching, tingling mouth, swollen tongue and throat, and red blood in your kiddo’s diaper could be a big warning. It occurs due to a condition called ‘Allergic Colitis,’ which irritates the Colon.
The Most Typical Food Allergies in Babies
StockSnap / Pixabay: Baby eating from a plate on Christmas
Babies don’t consume an exhaustive spectrum of food, but cow’s milk is the most common allergen, props to veganism! Studies claim that 7% of babies can’t digest cow’s milk, but do not confuse this situation with lactose intolerance—that is another story! Other customary foods causing allergy include peanuts, eggs, and seafood.
How to Pinpoint These Food Allergies?
Observe your baby. See if he/she is fussy after meals or after eating a particular food, and if you notice unusual behavior, visit your physician or an allergist ASAP.
Cutting Off Allergy-Prone Food when You Are Pregnant
Ting Tian/Unsplash: Seafood can cause allergies during pregnancy
Be Strategic When Starting Solid Food
Start with safe food, and work your way up to food that could cause allergy. Introduce new foods one by one, but also observe any recurring patterns or symptoms like eczema or rashes. Consult your child’s pediatrician immediately in such a case.
If your baby is diagnosed with a food allergy, remember to stay clear of the trigger fodder. And although aversion, hypersensitivity, and food allergies are scary and unnerving, they don’t last forever. Most kids get better and grow out of them at five. Remember: This too, shall pass!