Top tips for introducing the common allergy causing foods

Offer the common allergy causing foods that your family usually eats, as once introduced, it is important to keep offering these foods at least once a week.

Soon after your baby has started eating solid foods, offer peanut and well cooked egg (unless your baby already has an allergy to these foods). The other common allergy causing foods can then be offered.

To help you offer the common allergy causing foods to your baby, we have put together some helpful tips.

General tips

• Start new allergy causing foods when your baby is well.
  • This is so that any signs of your baby being sick are not confused with signs of an allergy reaction.

• Start new allergy causing foods in the morning.
  • Health experts recommend offering new common allergy causing foods earlier in the day so you can monitor for any delayed reactions. It is also recommended that the new food is offered soon after your baby wakes and not just before putting them down for a sleep. This will allow you to watch for any signs of an allergic reaction.

• Offer your baby the common allergy causing foods one at a time, such as one new food at each meal.
  • By introducing only one common allergy causing food at each meal, it will make it easier to identify the problem food if an allergic reaction occurs.

• Minor redness around the mouth is most often due to irritation and is not usually due to an allergic reaction to the food.
  • Babys have sensitive skin and therefore a mild rash can develop around their mouth when eating.
  • A barrier cream can be used around your baby’s mouth before feeding to help reduce redness.
  • If your baby has a mild rash around the mouth and no other signs of an allergic reaction it is not usually an allergic reaction.
  • If you are unsure, it is best to seek advice from your doctor as children can develop vomiting and skin rashes for other reasons that are not allergy related.

• My baby does not like the taste of new foods.
  • Babies often screw their face up when they start a new food, as they are getting used to the taste.
  • Keep offering the food to your baby so that your baby learns about new food tastes.
  • If you baby is still not wanting to eat the food, give the food a break and offer it again a week or two later.