Feeling nervous about how to introduce allergens to your baby? You’re definitely not alone! As a registered dietitian and new mom with food allergies in the family, I’m here to share evidence-based advice on when, what, and how to safely introduce allergenic foods. Plus, practical tips that can help you feel more confident every step of the way.
Introducing solids is a fun, exciting and messy stage in your baby’s life, but it can feel scary and overwhelming when it comes to introducing common allergens, such as peanut butter. Learning about food allergens is important as over 600,000 Canadian children under 18 years have a food allergy.
The good news: the risk of a baby having a severe allergic reaction the first time they eat a new food is extremely low and most babies can safely enjoy common allergenic foods. Now that we know this, let’s take a breath and get started!
Our immune system protects us from germs and disease, and helps fight off bacteria and viruses that can make us sick. When someone has a food allergy, their immune system mistakenly treats something in that food as if it’s dangerous to them and the body reacts by having an allergic reaction.
The symptoms of an allergic reaction can be mild or life-threatening. This is different from food intolerance, which is the inability to digest or absorb certain foods. Although symptoms of food intolerance can be uncomfortable (bloating, cramping, diarrhea), it is generally not life-threatening.
A person can be allergic to any food, but there are some that are more common than others. The most common causes of food allergy in babies are:
The Canadian Paediatric Society recommends feeding your baby common food allergens by around 6 months of age and when your baby is showing signs they are ready for solid foods. You’ll know your baby is ready for solids when they:
The first foods you offer your baby should be rich in iron, since they have used up all of the iron they have stored during their first 6 months of life. Here are our dietitian-recommended Top 10 Iron-Rich Foods for Babies. If you are beginning the journey into solid foods or looking for support, check out this free starting solids resource for more guidance.
If your baby is older than 6 months and you haven’t introduced common allergens yet, don’t stress! Allergens can be introduced into your baby’s diet at any time as long as it’s in an age-appropriate way to avoid the risk of choking.
Some babies are at high risk of developing food allergies. High-risk infants are babies with eczema or pre-existing food allergy, or have an immediate family member (parent or sibling) with eczema, food allergy, or asthma. If your baby is at high-risk for developing a food allergy, introduction can start earlier than 6 months, but not before 4 months, and when they are developmentally ready to enjoy solids.
If your family falls into this category, this resource from Food Allergy Canada is full of helpful information to make you feel more confident when introducing allergens to your baby. As a mom whose baby was in the high-risk category, I also found it reassuring to speak with a pediatric allergist and would recommend the same for any family whose baby is at high risk for developing food allergies. I
f you have a family member with a food allergy and are not sure how to navigate introducing that food to your baby, the dietitians at CNC are excellent resources for support.
As a new mom who was introducing allergens to my baby for the first time, I found offering a new allergen after a nap and preferably when someone else was home with me, made me feel the most comfortable. This way I knew she would be awake for at least two hours to monitor any symptoms, and if I needed to take her for medical care I had support.
Although getting messy with food is a great way for babies to explore, when it comes to introducing allergens it needs to be a little more controlled. Feed your baby rather than having them self-feed. Introduce common allergens on a spoon that you serve to your baby. Try to avoid getting it on your baby’s skin because it could cause a skin irritation that can be mistaken for an allergic reaction. For allergen-specific instructions for babies who are high-risk, Food Allergy Canada has more information.
Note: Once your baby has successfully tried a common allergen without a reaction, it’s very important to keep offering it regularly, 2–3 times a week, to help maintain their tolerance.
Some allergens are a little tricky to offer because of the texture. Here are some examples:
A note about cow’s milk: Cow’s milk is a common allergen and can be introduced in the form of full-fat plain yogurt, grated hard cheese, or cottage cheese. Cow’s milk as a beverage should not be introduced before 9-12 months.
Allergy symptoms usually develop within minutes of eating a food but can occur up to 2 hours after your baby eats. Your baby could experience mild symptoms such as a new rash or hives around the mouth. There could be behavioural changes such as irritability and inconsolable crying or clinging to a caregiver.
More severe symptoms can include:
Stop feeding your baby the food if you think it is causing an allergic reaction. Talk to your baby’s health care provider before offering it again.
If your baby has severe allergy symptoms, seek immediate medical attention and call 911. If the junior dose of an epinephrine auto-injector is on hand, it should be administered to an infant who is having a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
If your baby does develop a food allergy, it’s not your fault! Experts don’t have a definitive answer on the cause of food allergies and it’s likely a combination of many factors. What is most important is to focus on learning the skills and information you will need to help your child manage their diagnosis safely.
If your baby does have a reaction after eating food, the first step is to reach out to your primary care provider for a referral to an allergist for an assessment. An allergist will learn more about your baby’s history and may perform a combination of tests to confirm if your baby has an allergy. There is no age requirement for an allergy consultation and possible skin testing. If a child has an anaphylaxis reaction, sometimes testing can be falsely negative within 6 weeks so a delay in testing may be needed for accurate results.
If your child is diagnosed with a food allergy, it can bring out a range of emotions for you, your child and other family members. The emotional toll of food allergies can be challenging but remember, you’re not alone! At Centred Nutrition Collective, we understand the complexities of food allergies and are here to provide guidance and support every step of the way, including practical tips once your child is at daycare or school.
Introducing common allergens to your baby can feel a bit daunting, especially if there’s a history of allergies in your family. The good news is that early allergen introduction, when done safely and thoughtfully, can help reduce the risk of developing a food allergy.
Every baby is different and there’s no one “perfect” way to introduce allergens. Trust your instincts, go at your own pace, and remember that most babies can enjoy these foods safely. Most importantly, reading this information and learning about how to help build your baby’s confidence with food already means you’re doing a great job!
If you’re still feeling unsure or would like a little extra support, we’re always here to guide you. At Centred Nutrition Collective, we offer personalized support to help you feel confident in this part of your child’s journey with food.
