Solid Food Guide for a Baby Prone to Food Allergies

Making the move to solid foods is a milestone for your baby. It means she's growing up and needs more nutrition than breast milk or formula to help her grow and develop. However, if your little one is at risk of food allergies or has already been diagnosed with them, it's important to be careful about what foods you feed her. It's also important to talk to her pediatrician before starting solid foods.

  1. When to Start

    • For most babies, starting solid foods is appropriate around 4 months of age. However, for allergy-prone babies, it might be better to wait until 6 months of age. However, you probably don't want to wait much past that because babies' nutrient needs go up and holding off on solids for fear of an allergic reaction puts your little one at risk of deficiencies, particularly when it comes to iron, notes MayoClinic.com. Waiting to introduce solids won't prevent food allergies, so it makes sense to get your baby started when he shows signs of readiness, such as sitting without support and interest in what you eat.

    Baby Food Purees

    • Ninety percent of food allergies are due to eight common foods, which include wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, shellfish, milk, eggs and fish. If allergies to any of these foods are present in other family members, talk to your baby's pediatrician about safe ways to introduce them. In the beginning, however, baby food purees are appropriate for your new eater. MayoClinic.com suggests starting with infant rice cereal and gradually adding fruits, vegetables and meat to your baby's meal plan. Continue offering breast milk and formula as well because your baby still needs the nutrients from it.

    Table Foods

    • As your baby gets closer to 10 months of age, she's probably ready to nibble on tiny pieces of what the rest of the family is eating. Ensure anything you offer is cut into pieces smaller than 1/2 inch to prevent choking, cautions HealthyChildren.org, published by the American Academy of Pediatrics. If food allergies might be present, feeding your little one possible triggers at home with medication nearby can help you monitor and treat symptoms, according to MayoClinic.com. Finely diced fruits and vegetables and shredded meat are options that aren't common allergens and are healthy at the same time.

    Tips

    • Just because other family members have food allergies doesn't mean your baby is doomed to them as well. However, it's important to take precautions, no matter his risk. Don't offer more than one new food at a time, which allows you to watch for food allergies. If you introduce two new items on the same day, it is difficult to discern which one is the trigger. MayoClinic.com suggests waiting three to five days between each new food. Signs of a food allergy include rash, hives, swelling and trouble breathing. If your baby displays these symptoms after eating, seek medical attention right away because food allergies can be life-threatening.

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