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In recent years we have seen a significant increase in the susceptibility of people of all ages suffering from allergies. Even more disturbing is the increase of allergic reactions in babies.
Allergic reactions experienced by babies are of particular concern as the source may be difficult to detect. Baby food allergies are as common as adult food allergies. If your baby appears distressed for no apparent reason or has unexplained areas of itchiness to the skin, then perhaps he or she has a baby food allergy.
An allergy can be defined as an intolerance to a particular substance when touched, inhaled, injected or ingested. When our body is exposed to a substance that causes an allergic reaction the response may be nasal or respiratory congestion, itchy or runny nose, watery eyes, diarrhea, or itchy rashes anywhere on the body.
Baby Food Allergies – Can My Allergies be Passed on to my Baby?
If you tend to have an allergic reaction then your baby may have a tendency to be allergic also. However you and your baby may not share the same food allergies or be allergic to the same substances. You may have asthma, while your child may develop hay fever. Baby Food Allergies – How to detect them It can sometimes be difficult detecting the cause of baby food allergies. If you think your infant has a baby food allergy, eliminating the following products from their diet may help.
Milk and dairy products Eggs Nuts Shellfish Citrus Fruits
Once you have eliminated each of these food groups from your baby’s diet, you can begin to reintroduce them gradually one by one. Wait a few days before the introduction of an additional food group and do not mix food groups. If your baby has a baby food allergy you be able to detect it by monitoring his or her reaction to the introduction of these individual food groups.
Baby Food Allergies – Can they be prevented? Breastfeeding your baby for the first six months of his or her life helps to reduce the incidence of allergies earlier on in life. Try to avoid giving your baby pre-prepared foods that contain additives, or tinned or packaged foods.
Baby Food Allergies – When are they Most Likely to Occur?- Baby food allergies can occur at any time. Many babies are allergic to, or have an intolerance to cows milk and your baby may develop an allergy to other milk or wheat products, shellfish, nuts or citrus fruits. If your baby has an allergic reaction after eating a particular food, you should see the signs within an hour.
Baby Food Allergy – Signs to Look For:- The symptoms of a baby food allergy could include swelling or itchiness of the lips or tongue, wheezing or a skin rash. Some babies may develop an intolerance to particular food groups. If your baby has a food intolerance, symptoms might include diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain, colic or wind.
Treating Baby Food Allergies As long as you can find the cause, then the best way to treat a baby food allergy is to refrain from giving your baby that particular food. If your baby is experiencing related symptoms then the allergy could be pollen related rather than a baby food allergy. Non food substances that could also cause an allergic reaction include pet hairs, tobacco smoke, feather pillows, perfume or dust mites.
Baby Food Allergies – Healthy Alternatives
If your results indicated that your infant is experiencing baby food allergies, here are some non allergic foods that you can try introducing into their diet.
- Mangoes, apples, grapes
- Barley, oats, rye
- Cauliflower, carrots, sweet potatoes
- Chicken, salmon
If in any doubt you should seek professional help to determine whether it is a baby food allergy or something more serious.
Baby food allergies are quite common and with some work are detectable.
Do not ignore the symptoms. It can be a drawn out experience to determine the exact cause of the reaction.
For example we discovered with our second son was allergic to a cereal he enjoyed, ( wheat based ) so withdrew that item from the diet. We discovered later the he was suffering from ingestion of lactose also. So their is no way of avoiding that it has to be approached systematically and not to bypass any steps.
Never hesitate to seek medical advice for the condition. Be wary that some in the medical profession will provide a medical resolve that may suppress the symptoms but may not address the cause. Once you have detected the source of your baby’s food allergy, the simplest way to eliminate the symptoms is to remove the cause.