Food Allergies in Babies

Food allergy in babies may make the baby break out in rashes or cry inconsolably after trying a food. Babies may have vomiting or diarrhea due to food allergies. Most common allergies in kids less than 5 years old are to milk, eggs and peanuts. It may take a few times, before the baby gets sensitized to a certain allergen and so crying inconsolably is one of the first signs, accompanied by other symptoms that should warn the parents in time. Children may also inherit allergies that run in the family though if a child does not want to have a food, he or she is not necessarily allergic to it. The child may not simply like it.

Children may develop food allergy by consuming a food directly or through nursing where they may become allergic to something moms may have eaten. To prevent food allergies, it is recommended to introduce solids gradually in a child’s diet between ages of four to six months and pay attention to any signs and symptoms that may manifest themselves when you introduce a particular food. One should start with rice cereal, followed by barley and oat cereal and them move on to yellow vegetables, fruits, green vegetables, meats and at last, wheat. Keep a gap of five to seven days before moving on to another food, so you can watch whether any symptoms such as incessant crying, rash, diarrhea or vomiting, develop during this period. If they do, you may call the doctor.

Doctors may do tests to confirm the allergy. If the child is allergic to certain food, you may need to avoid giving it to him or eating it until you are breastfeeding the child. Milk allergies may warrant you to give non-allergenic formula or soy formula to your child and you should not drink milk during the nursing phase. However, the good news is that most kids outgrow food allergies in few months to perhaps, few years. Then, the food can be re-introduced to their diet without any problem.