According to recent studies, food allergies in children are on the rise. Here we speak to children's dietitian Lucy Upton about how to navigate the weaning process with babies, how to spot the physical symptoms and what to look out for on food labels
Living with a food allergy can feel quite isolating and unfair, especially for young children. When they are the only ones at the birthday party who can’t eat the cake, they’re bound to be frustrated.
It’s not easy for parents either. There is a mental load that comes with planning every meal so that it’s safe to eat and hits all their daily nutrition goals. Then, there’s making sure teachers, friends, and family know the do’s and don’ts around what they can eat.
Spinneys stocks a wide range of ‘free from’ products which are very close in appearance and taste to their counterparts. Plant-based dairy alternatives for milk, cheese and yoghurt are readily available, as well as plenty of gluten- and wheat-free products, many of which are targeted and designed with children in mind.
Let’s start at the beginning. How can we introduce allergens during the weaning process with babies?
Common food allergens include milk, egg, peanuts, wheat, fish, shellfish, soya, tree nuts and sesame. It’s recommended that these foods should be proactively introduced during weaning – instead of waiting until a child is three years old to try peanuts! Research shows that early introduction can protect children from developing food allergies later on, so it’s a good idea to prioritise getting them into your child’s diet in a safe and timely way. Here are a few things to remember:
- Start small – offer ¼ or ½ a teaspoon of the allergen at the first exposure and if tolerated gradually build up
- One at a time – avoid offering two new allergens at the same time in case your child does react, otherwise it can be difficult to pin down the culprit
- Ensure your child is well - avoid offering allergens when your child is ill or has symptoms that may make it difficult to identify any possible reactions. Also, if your child has eczema this should be well-controlled before introducing allergenic foods
And don’t forget, once you’ve added these foods into the diet – keep them in.
What are the physical symptoms of allergy that we should be looking out for in babies and young children?
Symptoms will depend on the type of food allergy a person has. For an immediate type food allergy, common triggers include peanuts, nuts, sesame, egg and milk. The child will present with symptoms that occur immediately, and no more than two hours after consuming the food. Symptoms can include hives (nettle rash), redness, swelling (e.g. eyes, face, ears, lips and, in severe circumstances, the mouth and throat), vomiting and/or diarrhoea, and itching. In more severe cases, there may be airway symptoms e.g. shortness of breath, difficulty breathing and anaphylaxis.
Symptoms for a delayed type food allergy (which can be triggered by milk, soya, egg and wheat) will present anywhere from 2-72 hours after consumption. Symptoms can be difficult to interpret, as many cross over with common baby and child presentations, but can include digestive symptoms such as diarrhoea, constipation, blood in stools, excessive mucus in stools, vomiting, reflux and colic.
Any top tips for parents on what to look out for on food labels?
If your child is allergic to anything, reading food labels is super important. Common allergens are usually labelled in bold or capitals or underlined on ingredients lists. If your child is allergic to a less common allergen, take the time to double-check the list and be aware of the different ways ingredients are named, e.g. chickpea flour and gram flour. Finally, check every label every time. It’s worth knowing that manufacturers can change their ingredients at any time so it’s not worth taking a risk.
Lucy Upton @thechildrensdietitian.
