Food allergies
I am giving wheat to my 8 months old baby and he is taking it well. However, my niece who is 1 year old suffers from gluten allergy and the doctors have advised him not to take oats and wheat. How will I know that my baby suffers from the same problem?
My baby is 6 months old. I want to give her carrot mash. Will she be allergic to it? If so, how would I know?
It is a good idea to give a well balanced diet and introduce as many varieties of foods as possible during the first few months of weaning. However, there are some foods which are better introduced after one year of age to avoid risk of allergies. The baby's digestive system is not well mature during the early months and allows certain undigested proteins to be absorbed into the blood. The body treats these proteins as foreign substances and triggers allergic reaction. After the first birthday, the gut is more mature and food allergies gradually subside. In some children with a family history of allergies, it may take longer time for food allergies to subside. Hence it is very important to inform your pediatrician in case there are any cases of food allergies in the family. How would you know if your baby has an allergic reaction towards a particular food? Some of the signs of an allergic reaction are colic, difficulty in breathing, skin rash, wheezing, recurrent vomiting and loose stools. If food allergy towards a particular food is suspected, that food must be stopped and the pediatrician must be informed. Foods which have increased risk of food allergy are milk, peanuts, wheat, oats, soy and eggs.