What is an allergy?
It is an unusual physical reaction to, for instance, particular foods or pollens. Sensitivities to these are often mistaken for allergies.
The risk factors
- Babies with family histories of allergies are more likely to develop them.
- The mother's diet during pregnancy and baby's diet play an important role.
- Parents who smoke increase the risk of their babies' developing allergies.
- Other environmental factors that increase the risk are pollen, dust, mould, household pets and certain soaps and creams.
The common signs of a baby with allergies
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Specific rashes (excema)
- Excessive restlessness
- Inexplicable crying
- Apparent cramping
- Recurring infections
- Poor weight gain
- Diarrhoea
Note
: Other health and feeding issues could also cause the above.
A mother's diet during pregnancy and birth
If allergies are a serious health issue in your family, speak to your doctor or dietician about a diet that will eliminate the common allergens.
It is likely that you would need to supplement your diet with important nutrients like calcium and iron.
All moms would benefit from a diet that includes plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables. Avoid caffeine present in tea, coffee chocolate and some fizzy drinks.
The newborn's diet
Young babies are inclined to have adverse reactions to their diet rather than their environment. Smoke is the most likely exception.
Exclusive breast-feeding is the only option that offers your baby some protection against developing allergies.
That means no other milk and even water is to be avoided.
Ideally, exclusive breastfeeding should be maintained for four to six to months.
The younger the baby when anything other than breast-milk is introduced, the more likely the adverse reaction.
Should a baby show signs of allergies or sensitivities in spite of exclusive breast-feeding, mom may need to follow an elimination diet.
One would usually start by eliminating all dairy products. Persist for at least ten days before expecting any results. Once again one would need to follow a specialist replacement diet.
Should there be no improvement after two weeks or longer, one could follow a gluten free diet - as always under specialist supervision.
Starting solids
Delaying the introduction of solids reduces the risk of developing allergies.
Babies can be breast-fed exclusively for up to six months.
Starter food suggestions
Always offer a new food for at least four to five days before trying the next.
Single grain cereals.
Single vegetable varieties such as home-cooked pumpkin, butternut, sweet potato, or carrots. Greens are last on the list.
Single fruit varieties like apples, pears and banana. Citrus should be introduced last.
Once established on the more bland foods mentioned above, one could offer baby a combination of the above with other family vegetables and fruit.
Most common food allergy offenders
- Dairy (milk, yoghurt, cheese)
- Gluten (wheat cereals, bread, biscuits, pasta)
- Soya
- Egg (introduce yolk after seven months and white after one year)
- Fish (introduce after a year)
- Peanuts (introduce after a year, possible choking remains a problem)
- Artificial preservatives, additives and colourants.