Food Allergies in Babies: What Parents Need to Know

What is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy happens when your baby’s body thinks a food is harmful. The body fights against the food, which causes symptoms. About 1 in 13 children have food allergies.

Common Food Allergens for Babies

These foods cause most allergies in babies:

• Eggs
• Milk
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (like almonds or walnuts)
• Fish
• Shellfish (like shrimp)
• Wheat
• Soy

Signs of a Food Allergy

Watch for these signs after your baby eats a new food:

Mild to Moderate Signs

• Rash or hives (red, itchy bumps on skin)
• Face, tongue, or lip swelling
• Vomiting or diarrhea
• Dry, itchy skin or eczema getting worse
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Watery, itchy eyes
• Stomach pain or cramping

Severe Signs (Call 911 Right Away)

• Trouble breathing
• Throat tightness
• Turning blue
• Passing out
• Very bad coughing
• Trouble swallowing

When to Introduce Allergenic Foods

New research shows that giving babies allergenic foods early may help prevent food allergies.

• Start around 6 months, when baby is ready for solid foods
• Talk to your doctor first, especially if:
  • Your baby has eczema
  • Your baby has had an allergic reaction before
  • Other family members have food allergies

How to Introduce Allergenic Foods Safely

1. Start with a tiny amount (¼ teaspoon)
2. Try the food in the morning
3. Only try one new food at a time
4. Wait 3-5 days before trying another new food
5. If no reaction occurs, slowly give larger amounts

What to Do If You See a Reaction

For Mild Reactions:

1. Stop giving the food
2. Write down the food and the symptoms
3. Call your baby’s doctor
4. Take a picture of any rash or swelling

For Severe Reactions:

1. Call 911 right away
2. If you have an epinephrine injector (like EpiPen), use it
3. Keep baby sitting up or lying on their side

Managing Food Allergies

If your baby has a food allergy:

1. Work with a doctor to make a care plan
2. Learn all the names for allergens (milk may be called casein or whey)
3. Read food labels carefully
4. Tell caregivers, family, and friends about the allergy
5. Keep any prescribed medicine (like an EpiPen) with your baby at all times

Will My Baby Outgrow Food Allergies?

Many babies outgrow some food allergies:

• Milk, egg, soy, and wheat allergies often go away by school age
• Peanut, tree nut, fish, and shellfish allergies usually last longer

Your doctor can test your baby over time to see if they’ve outgrown their allergy.

References

1. American Academy of Pediatrics. (2022). Food Allergies in Children. HealthyChildren.org.
2. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2020). Prevention of Allergies and Asthma in Children. aaaai.org.
3. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021). Food Allergies in Children. cdc.gov.
4. Food Allergy Research & Education. (2022). Recognizing and Responding to a Reaction. foodallergy.org.
5. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. (2021). Guidelines for the Diagnosis and Management of Food Allergy in the United States. niaid.nih.gov.
6. Fleischer, D. M., et al. (2021). Introducing Allergenic Foods to Infants. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.