When to Introduce Allergen Foods to Infants

A blog about the most common foods that will cause a reaction in your child.

The scene: Black Friday Shopping. The victim: My 7 month year old. The tool: A Mexican peanut butter flavored candy that I have no knowledge of. The culprit: My unsuspecting husband who has no clue about common child allergies. That’s the set up when my husband gave Bodie a tiny bit of his candy after he asked me if it was ok- which I said yes prior to trying. Let’s just say there were a tense 5 minutes where I almost passed out waiting for something horrible to happen to my child. And guess what? It never happened. Why is that? The new research may just shock you!

This raises the question- are you a worried mother (like me!!) who questions about what to introduce to your child and when? Are some foods better to introduce than others and what about common chemicals and processed baby foods? Are those ok for your child to eat?

It is common to introduce foods to children around the 4 to 6 month range, though it is important to note that your child will not get all (or most) of their nutrition from food for about the first year. My favorite saying I’ve heard is “Food before one is just for fun!” and I very much believe that, especially if a mother has chosen to breastfeed and wants to do baby led weaning.

However, during the time period between 6 to 12 months it is important to introduce complimentary foods. This will help infants learn proper motor development skills, as well as will encourage infants to be a part of meal times with their family. As we all know, eating is a coming together time for most families, so getting children on board with this at a young age is encouraged. Even if the infant doesn’t eat much, it’s good for infants to socialize with family members as well as learn to bring food and/or silverware/cups/etc. to their mouths to feed themselves. Expect a TON of mess during this time- and allow it! The mess is part of the development process. And though I know there are a ton of OCD over-the-top clean folk out there, it’s important to let your child learn. And mistakes as well as mess are part of the growing process.

There are 8 foods out there that are commonly known as frequently causing problems in young children. Until recently, the idea was to wait to introduce these foods to a later date to make sure that an infant can handle the digestion process with bland/non allergenic foods. However, research has suggested that it may actually be beneficial to introduce allergen foods earlier on in the nutrition process. Studies have noted that delaying introduction of allergen foods provide no protection against developing an allergic reaction. Furthermore, delaying exposure to these foods may hurt young children in that the introduction helps bring about protection from potential allergens. More research needs to be done on the protection theory, but regardless the research solidifies the idea that introducing some of our favorite (and potentially allergy-ridden) foods is ok to do!

That being said, I believe that it is important to note what foods commonly cause an allergic reaction in infants, and what to look for. One of the biggest reasons it’s scary to introduce foods to our little ones is that they can’t tell you if there’s a problem- the whole talking thing hasn’t clicked yet. But, this fear doubles when it’s something that can be potentially harmful- even deadly- to our child. When introducing allergen foods be very diligent to check your child for moderate to severe reactions such as abnormal or high pitched breathing, cough, difficulty swallowing, flushing of the face/body, swelling, vomiting, or wheezing. Thankfully first time reactions usually are on the more mild scale, which include rashes, hives, watery eyes, and nasal congestion after eating. If your baby experiences a less severe reaction, it may be best to think twice to introduce that food for a little bit. Also, it is important to note if you or anyone in your direct family have a severe reaction to a food group, it is more likely that your child will as well. AND if your child is more prone to skin problems such as eczema while younger, they are at an increased risk for reaction too.

So, what are that most common foods that can cause problems? — Milk. This includes all milk products, from yogurt to ice cream and beyond. Common worldwide. — Egg. Many sources note that it’s the concentration of egg protein that can be an issue. Many consider just trying the egg yolk before moving on to the entire egg. — Tree nuts. This includes walnut, almond, hazelnut, cashew, pistachio, and Brazil nuts. — Peanuts. From the actual nut to peanut butter to flavorings. — Soy. — Wheat. — Shellfish. Which includes mussels, clams, shrimp, etc. — Fish.

This is the magical 8 to be a bit more cautious with when introducing to your child. But, as stated, don’t delay in introducing unless there’s a family history of allergic reaction/your child is prone to bouts of eczema.

Happy tasting!

Sources: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Common Food Allergies in Infants, Children, and Adults. Last Updated March 06, 2012, viewed Nov 29, 2015. https://www.niaid.nih.gov/topics/foodallergy/understanding/Pages/foodAllergy8Allergens.aspx

U.S. National Library of Medicine. Allergic Reactions. Last Updated May 10, 2015, viewed Nov 29, 2015. https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000005.htm.

Chin, Benetta, Edmond S. Chan, and Ran D. Goldman. “Early Exposure to Food and Food Allergy in Children.” Canadian Family Physician 60.4 (2014): 338–339. Print. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4046529/.

Originally published at mommiesnmunchkins.net.