Ask Judy: How Do I Introduce Foods That My Baby Might Be Allergic To?

Dear Judy, It has been a solid month of keeping my baby away from wheat, dairy, soy, and eggs. Yesterday her Chiropractor suggested that I slowly reintroducing foods back into my diet. Do you have any recommendations?

Food AllergiesI recommend introducing the foods back one at a time. Take one food (say milk) and have one glass the first day – see how she does. Have two glasses (1 in the AM, 1 in the PM) the 2nd day and see how she does. Have three glasses on the third day (AM, noon, PM) and see how she does. Then gradually increase until you are having as much of that food in your diet as you would want. Give it a week. During that time – don’t introduce anything else that is “new” or that she might be allergic to. If she doesn’t have any reaction at the end of the week, then introduce a 2nd food – while still keeping the milk in your diet. This will enable you to see which specific foods might be affecting her. It will take some time, but it will be worth it to be able to have more foods in your diet. If she reacts to milk, you can also try different types of dairy – for instance you might be able to eat yogurt, but not cheese or milk (or vice-versa) – try different forms to see what might work best.

Another option is to try introducing a food that she has had a reaction to in a “cooked” form. For instance, if your baby has reacted to eggs in the past, try eating something (like a bread) that is cooked with eggs in it. Some babies might react when you eat a plain egg, but may not react if you eat a bread that has eggs in it. Trying foods one at a time and trying small amounts and in different forms might be helpful in determining which foods you need to eliminate from your diet and which foods you don’t.

Does your baby have allergies? Did you have to adjust your diet while you were breastfeeding? Please share your story or your advice by leaving a comment on this post.

5 comments to Ask Judy: How Do I Introduce Foods That My Baby Might Be Allergic To?

  • Amnesty

    PLEASE talk to an allergist before changing your baby’s diet! Chiropractors are fantastic for care of your SPINE. They are NOT allergists, and should not be treating allergies! Food allergies can kill, and if you have seen reactions to foods, you should not be trialing those foods at home without specific guidelines from your allergist.

  • Amnesty

    One more thing; please check out http://www.kidswithfoodallergies.org/
    You can find very reliable information from moms (and a few dads) who have been through what you are going through, as well as get recommendations for good doctors in your area. I’ve been a member for the past 5 years, and I don’t know what I would do without them!

  • Angie

    My son was born in Nov 07, and we didn’t discover the cause of his respiratory problems until May 08. He has food allergies and is allergic to milk, egg, peanut, wheat, and barley. We removed those foods from my diet and his lungs were clear within 4 days. He still has reactions when I eat the offending foods, but we have been amazed at the good it has done him to remove those foods from my (and now his) diets. We found out his allergens by visiting an allergist and having a skin test done- I would recommend it. Testing isn’t always 100% accurate, but can provide a good road map to help you figure out the offenders. Eliminating foods is hard enough without eliminating foods that may not be causing a problem! Anyway, I have been heavily dependent on http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TerrificKidsWFA/ for support. There are lots of other moms there that have breastfed babies with food allergies, and I couldn’t have made it without their ideas, recipes, and support!
    Hope that helps! Breastfeeding a baby with food allergies is tricky, and it’s a sacrifice, but it’s worth it!!

  • angie

    ahh! my original comment didn’t save. i’m breastfeeding a 21 month old who has food allergies, and i avoid dairy, wheat, eggs, and nuts for him. it’s tricky, and a sacrifice, but so worth it to see him well! i could not survive without my network of support. please check out http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/TerrificKidsWFA/ there are a lot of moms there who have breastfeed babies with FA’s, and i would never have made it without their ideas, recipes, and support! (and it’s free to join!)

  • thank you for this information
    .-= Slee´s last blog ..Passing =-.

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