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  Allergy Matters: New Approaches to Allergy Prevention And Management
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Baby and Child Food Allergy |
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 A food allergy often starts in infancy with colic, eczema or asthma and can coincide with bottle feeding, or weaning. Other symptoms of a food allergy can be tonsillitis, earaches, runny nose, skin problems, bed-wetting, wheeziness, learning difficulties and hyperactivity.
To prevent your child from developing a food allergy you should establish good eating habits and routines before and during pregnancy and in the first two years of your childs life.
In babies and children food is a common cause of allergic reactions but so are other allergens such as pet hairs, pollen, washing powders etc. so keep an open mind when trying to find the cause of a childs troubles.
Pregnancy
Babies can become sensitive to food before they are born so it is important the mother be aware of the most common sources of a food allergy. If you are planning to become pregnant and suffer from food allergies you can begin eliminating the foods causing your problems from your diet. For best results consult your doctor or health practitioner for advice as pregnancy is a time when you need optimum nutrition and therefore you should not be eating an overly restricted diet at this time.
Breast Feeding or Bottle Feeding?
Breast feeding and late weening are best for avoiding a food allergy as a breast-fed baby receives the benefits of a mother's immunity, passed on through her milk, as well as a "preview" of the diet to follow. Breast milk also contains antibodies which protect the baby from viruses and bacteria. Breast milk contains a substance called colostrum which appreas in the first few days of feeding, and helps the bay's gut to function properly.
If you find breast feeding difficult or do not wish to breast feed, at least try and feed for the first few days if possible as this provides a healthy start for your baby. Breast feeding is not a gurantee against a food allergy but can be a good protective measure.
It's important to note that even though a baby is breast-fed the mother may be drinking cows milk or another allergy forming food and this may get passed to the baby and cause digestive upsets. Keepan eye on your baby to see if they are particularly sensitive.
Weaning
Babies have underdeveloped digestive systems so it is important not to wean too early. Careful weaning, like breast feeding, can help to give a child a good start against food allergies.
- Wait as long as you can before weaning your child; at least six months if possible
- Introduce new foods slowyl - one per day
- Introduce foods on their own, such as plain pureed carrots or plain mashed banana. Do not be in a rush to combine foods
- Keep a foods and symptoms diary so that you can keep a check on any foods that might be causing a food allergy in your child
- If a baby shows no signs of a bad reaction, try it again after five days to make sure it has not been sensitized after the first time. If there is still no reaction the food can be kept in their diet.
- Keep your child's food varied. No food should be eaten every day as they could build up a sensitivity to iy
First Foods
- Avocado
- Banana
- Buckwheat
- Carrots
- Parsnip
- Plain baby rice
- Potatoes, sweet potatoes
- Sago
- Swede, turnip
- Tapioca (not necessary if bottle fed as it is included in formula milk)
Second Foods
- Fruit (except citrus)
- Other vegetables (except cabbage family)
Not before Nine months
- Millet
- Oats
- Rye
- Wheat
Not before Twelve months
- Beans, pulses, peas
- Cabbage family
- Citrus fruits
- Corn
- Cow's, sheep's, goat's milk and their products
- Eggs
- Fish
- Meat
- Nuts, seeds
- Poultry
- Sugar
- Tapioca (for part or fully bottle-fed babies)
- Yeast
The above regime can be difficult to stick to, but it can be worth it for a baby in a family with a history of food allergy symptoms.
Most babies will also thrive on this kind of diet and the older your child is before potentially trouble allergy foods are introduced the better they will be able to avoid a food sensitivity.
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