What Can You Give An Infant With Pollen Allergies
Pollen allergies, also known as hay fever, don’t normally affect infants. The way that allergies work is that once your body is exposed to an allergen and registers it as dangerous, it will continue to have the same response thereafter. Babies don’t usually get enough exposure to trigger their immune systems. Most commonly, children don’t start suffering from hay fever until they’re seven years old, and hay fever in babies under two is considered uncommon. So if you suspect your baby might be suffering from pollen allergies, the first step is to determine whether they’re actually pollen allergies or whether the culprit is something else.
Pollen allergies usually kick in between early spring and late summer the symptoms are similar to those of a cold: runny nose, sneezing, congestion, itchy or watery eyes. The trick in diagnosing pollen allergies is to note when the symptoms occur. If they bother your baby for a week or two and then go away, they’re probably not indicative of hay fever. However, if they bother your baby during the summer on sunny days and last for the season, there’s a much better chance your baby has pollen allergies. If the symptoms are year-round, that’s also probably not a pollen allergy since trees, grass and ragweed release their pollen in warmer months. Your doctor can help with the diagnosis.
When Do Seasonal Allergies Develop In Babies
Its uncommon for babies to have seasonal allergies in the first year. That said, its possible for allergy symptoms to begin at any age.
Kids tend to develop seasonal allergies between the ages of 3 and 5, with most young allergy sufferers noticing symptoms by the time theyre 10. Some kids develop allergies as young as 1 or 2 years old, although usually theyre reacting to indoor allergens like dust, mold or pet dander.
What Should I Do If My Baby Has An Allergic Reaction
Anaphylaxis can cause a dangerous drop in blood pressure. If your baby is having any of the symptoms above, they will require immediate and urgent attention. Call triple zero and ask for an ambulance or go to your nearest hospital emergency department.
If your baby only has a mild reaction, avoid giving them that food again and see your doctor for advice and an accurate diagnosis.
Don’t Miss: Claritin D Behind The Counter
What Are The Most Common Food Allergens
A child could be allergic to any food, but these eight common allergens account for 90% of all reactions in kids:
In general, most kids with food allergies outgrow them. Of those who are allergic to milk, about 80% will eventually outgrow the allergy. About two-thirds with allergies to eggs and about 80% with a wheat or soy allergy will outgrow those by the time they’re 5 years old. Other food allergies may be harder to outgrow.
Prevention Of Food Allergies
The development of food allergies cannot be prevented, but can often bedelayed in infants by following these recommendations:
-
If possible, breastfeed your infant for the first six months.
-
Do not give solid foods until your child is 6 months of age or older.
-
Avoid cow’s milk, wheat, eggs, peanuts, and fish during your child’s first year of life.
Read Also: Zyrtect
What To Do If You Suspect A Food Allergy
So, what do you do if you suspect your baby has a food allergy? First, you will want to avoid that food. Do not introduce the suspicious food or any other highly allergenic foods to your babys diet until you speak with your pediatrician.
There are also specific food allergy tests a pediatric allergist can perform to really pinpoint what foods are causing issues. These tests include a skin prick test which is often combined with blood work.
While baby food allergies are very scary, working with the right medical team and knowing exactly what foods to avoid can help make the transition to introducing solid foods a little less stressful.
How Can I Tell If My Child Has A Food Allergy
Symptoms of a reaction to foodnormally develop right after or within hours of eating.
Signs of a mild or moderate food allergy are:
- runny nose, sneezing, asthma, coughing or wheezing
- skin problems
- stomach cramps, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or colic-like symptoms.
Signs of a serious food allergy are:
- swelling lips, mouth, tongue, face, and/or throat
- dizziness, difficulty breathing, and/or collapse
- pale and floppy .
Read Also: Penicillin Side Effects Itching
Hot And Cold Compresses
Allergies can make your little one feel miserable, but that doesnât mean you canât make it better. You can help them avoid things that trigger their symptoms. And you can also learn about medicines that fight allergies. Home treatments can work, too. To ease sinus pressure, start by rinsing their face to remove any pollen. Then put a warm compress on their face, either the nose or forehead. Just ask where they feel pressure. A cold, wet washcloth or an ice pack wrapped in a towel for a short time can relieve itchy eyes.
Breast Milk Is Beneficial
Breast milk provides optimal nutrition for an infant. Even babies with food allergies can benefit from breast milk. Very rarely, the food proteins pass through the breast milk and can cause symptoms in an infant or toddler. If this happens, the doctor may recommend the lactating mother avoid eating the foods their child is allergic to . Many women can continue to breastfeed if they remove the foods that trigger their childs symptoms from their own diets. It is important to make sure you eat a healthy variety of foods. Seeing a registered dietitian can be helpful to plan how to replace nutrition that may be lost from avoiding specific foods.If the child doesnt have food allergy symptoms, the lactating mother doesnt need to remove the foods from their diet.
Don’t Miss: Allergy Claritin
Formula Options For Infants And Children With Food Allergies
If breastfeeding isnt an option, what formula should you introduce to your baby who is showing signs of allergy or intolerance? The formula you give your baby will depend on the condition they have.
Here are different types of formula available you can discuss with your childs doctor.
Milk-Based Formulas
Milk-based formulas offer complete nutrition. But babies sometimes develop an allergy or intolerance to the cow’s milk in these formulas. These formulas are not recommended for children diagnosed with cows milk allergy. Cows milk allergy is one of the most common types of infant food allergy.
Soy Formulas
Soy formulas are no less allergenic than cow’s milk-based formulas. Eight to 14% of infants with cow’s milk allergy will react to soy. If your child has cows milk allergy, ask your childs physician if a soy formula is recommended. These formulas are not recommended for children diagnosed with soy allergy.
If your infant has allergic proctocolitis or enterocolitis, they have a 25 to 60% chance of reacting to soy formulas. Other options below may be more appropriate for your child.
Partially Hydrolyzed Formulas
Partially hydrolyzed formulas take cows milk proteins and break them into smaller pieces. Some formulas have a whey and casein blend that is partially hydrolyzed, while others may have 100% whey protein that is hydrolyzed. These formulas are NOT used for infants allergic to cows milk.
Extensively Hydrolyzed Formulas
Amino Acid-Based Formulas
What Foods Should I Feed My Baby
While foods can be introduced in any order, iron rich foods should be fed to your baby at around 6 months of age. Iron rich foods include iron enriched baby cereals, meats, poultry, fish, well cooked egg and legumes .
If your baby is allergic to a particular food, DO NOT feed your baby that food. If you think your baby has a food allergy, you should seek advice from your doctor. It is important that food allergies are confirmed by a doctor.
The common allergy causing foods should be included in the foods you feed to your baby before they are one year of age. Common allergy causing foods include:
Fish
Shellfish
Introduce one new allergy causing food at a time so that if your baby has an allergic reaction, it is easier to work out which food is likely to be the problem food.
Note: Children under 5 years of age should only be given peanuts or tree nuts as a smooth nut butter or paste or as nuts ground up to be a powder or flour.
You May Like: Robitussin With Antihistamine
How Is A Food Allergy Diagnosed
If your child might have a food allergy, the doctor will ask about:
- your child’s symptoms
- how often the reaction happens
- the time it takes between eating a particular food and the start of symptoms
- whether any family members have allergies or conditions like eczema and asthma
The doctor will look for any other conditions that could cause the symptoms. For example, if your child seems to have diarrhea after drinking milk, the doctor may check to see if lactose intolerance could be the cause. Celiac disease a condition in which a person cannot tolerate the protein gluten also can cause similar symptoms.
The doctor might refer you to an , who will ask more questions and do a physical exam. The allergist probably will order tests to help make a diagnosis, such as:
- a skin test. This test involves placing liquid extracts of food allergens on your child’s forearm or back, pricking the skin, and waiting to see if reddish raised spots form within 15 minutes. A positive test to a food only shows that your child might be sensitive to that food.
- blood tests to check the blood for IgE antibodies to specific foods
If the test results are unclear, the allergist may do a food challenge:
- During this test, a person slowly gets increasing amounts of the potential food allergen to eat while being watched for symptoms by the doctor. The test must be done in an allergist’s office or hospital with access to immediate medical care and medicines because a life-threatening reaction could happen.
What Is Food Allergy
Food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakes a specific protein in a food as harmful. Once a person has a food allergy, an allergic reaction occurs every time they eat that food.
About 7% of babies and young children have food allergy. Children can outgrow some food allergies.
The foods that cause food allergy most often are called common food allergens. They include:
- Milk
- Tree nuts
- Soy
- Seafood
- Wheat
- Sesame
Also Check: Tryptase Level Anaphylaxis
What Can I Do If I Cant Afford Formula
The cost of formula can add up. But there are options to help you cover the cost.
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children Low-income women and children under 5 may qualify for benefits under WIC. If you qualify, you may receive checks or vouchers so you can purchase formula. You can apply for WIC online or contact your local office. Each states WIC program has a list of which formula options they cover. Check with your local WIC office for more information.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program SNAP is another food assistance program for eligible families. This program provides a debit card that allows you to buy food in retail food stores.
Temporary Assistance for Needy Families TANF is a program funded by the Office of Family Assistance . OAF provides grants to various states to give temporary help to families in need. Check with your states assistance office to see if help is available.
Food banks Many food banks distribute free formula. Feeding America has many locations throughout the U.S. Local nonprofit organizations and churches in your area may operate food banks as well.
Local resources Dial 211 on your phone to speak to someone in your community who may be able to direct you to local programs and resources.
Formula discount programs Some formula companies have discount programs and coupons to help reduce the cost of formula.
Seasonal Allergy Symptoms In Toddlers And Children
Symptoms of seasonal allergies in children can include any combination of the following:
- Scratchy throat
- Red, irritated eyes
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
If your child is struggling to take a full breath, develops a rash, swelling, or fever, seek medical help immediately. These could be signs of a severe allergic reaction.
Symptoms of seasonal allergies can affect various organ systems, explains Salma Elfaki, MD, Board Certified Pediatrician at Lake Nona Pediatric Center. Some children can have runny nose, cough, itchy nose. Some patients can also develop itchiness and redness and watery discharge from eyes.
These are fairly common symptoms of allergies, but some children will have a more acute reaction. More severe allergies can cause wheezing and worsening of asthma, Dr. Elfaki says. Some children can also develop skin reactions such as eczema or break out in hives which can be mild or very severe.
Recommended Reading: Can An Allergic Reaction Cause Vomiting
Can The Way A Baby Is Born Via C
Yes. Babies born by C-section have an increased chance of developing allergies as there are interruptions to maternal microbiome transmissions, says Dr Rafique. When this transfer is compromised, it may negatively influence immunological impairment and food allergies.
Write to us about your parenting concerns on
How Often Should I Feed My Baby Allergy Causing Foods Once Introduced
Once youve fed your baby the common allergy causing foods, it is important to continue to include these foods in your babys meals, ideally at least twice a week. This is important to help prevent your baby possibly developing an allergy after eating the food. If you feed your baby the common allergy causing foods but your baby does not continue to eat the foods, they could develop a food allergy if they have not eaten the food for some time. There is no clear research to tell us exactly how much of the allergy causing foods your baby needs to eat to prevent food allergy, so it is recommended that you choose small amounts to start with and increase the amount as your baby grows and eats more.
As it is important to continue to feed your baby the common allergy causing foods once introduced, you should only feed them the foods that you are able to continue to feed them. Your baby will eventually be eating family foods, so if your family does not eat a particular food, you may choose not to introduce that particular food to your baby, knowing that they are not likely to continue eating it once they are able to eat family meals. You may wish to discuss this with your doctor or an allergy dietitian.
For example, once you have fed your baby egg for the first time, you should include well cooked egg in your babys food at least twice a week.
The important thing is to include the food in your baby’s meals at least twice a week.
Recipes for your baby
Don’t Miss: Twix Ingredients Allergy
How Are Food Allergies Diagnosed
If you think your baby has a food allergy, go to your GP for advice. If symptoms appear within a few minutes every time your child eats a particular food, it makes it easy to identify which food is causing the reaction. But if the cause isnt known, your child might need to see an allergy specialist for a skin prick or a blood test to identify which foods are causing the reaction.
Most Allergenic Foods For Babies
While some foods are generally well-tolerated, a handful of foods are commonly known to trigger allergic reactions. According to Dr. Sears, some of the most allergenic foods for babies include:
- Peanuts
- Berries
- Buckwheat
If your child suffers from food allergies, it may be best to avoid these foods until you work with an allergist to determine a plan to avoid introducing foods your child may react to.
Read Also: Allegra For Skin Allergies
Introducing Foods That Could Trigger Allergy
When you start introducing solid foods to your baby from around 6 months old, introduce the foods that can trigger allergic reactions one at a time and in very small amounts so that you can spot any reaction.
If your baby already has an allergy, such as a diagnosed food allergy or eczema, or if you have a family history of food allergies, eczema, asthma or hay fever, you may need to be particularly careful when introducing foods. Talk to your GP or health visitor first.
Foods that can trigger an allergic reaction are:
- cows’ milk
- eggs
- foods that contain gluten, including wheat, barley and rye
- nuts and peanuts
- seeds
- soya
- shellfish
- fish
These foods can be introduced from around 6 months as part of your baby’s diet, just like any other foods.
Once introduced and if tolerated, these foods should become part of your baby’s usual diet to minimise the risk of allergy.
Evidence has shown that delaying the introduction of peanut and hen’s eggs beyond 6 to 12 months may increase the risk of developing an allergy to these foods.
Lots of children outgrow their allergies to milk or eggs, but a peanut allergy is generally lifelong.
If your child has a food allergy, read food labels carefully. Avoid foods if you’re not sure whether they contain the food your child is allergic to.
How Long Does Milk Protein Allergy Last In Babies
If you think your baby may have a milk protein allergy, its important to seek treatment as soon as possible to avoid severe illness later on. A small number of children may have long-term milk protein issues. But most outgrow the condition by the time they reach 18 months to 2 years old, Dr. Goldman says.
You May Like: Are There Peanuts In Twix
