How To Manage Your Baby's Food Allergies

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If you have noticed that your baby does not tolerate conventional infant formulas very well, then perhaps he or she has a food allergy. Unfortunately, since they are not able to communicate exactly what is wrong, it can be frightening for a parent to see their child feeling sick after eating standard foods. While food allergies require that you take a little extra care when providing for the nutritional needs of your child, this does not have to cause you too much grief.

Fortunately, there are several ways that you can provide for your child regardless of what their allergy may be. Explore the options outlined here are you can ensure that your child receives all the macro-nutrients, minerals and vitamins they need to reach their developmental milestones.

Let’s look at some effective ways to manage any baby food allergy your little one may be experiencing.

Consult With Your Doctor
When looking to manage your child’s food allergies, your first stop should be your family physician. In order to determine that your child’s intolerance to certain foods is actually an allergy and not simply a distaste for a particular food, you need to get an informed medical opinion.

Your doctor will verify what your child’s specific allergy is through conducting some simple tests. Then, he or she will provide you with some alternative food options you can use to plan a proper dietary protocol for your baby.

Use A Specialized Infant Formula
Once you have discovered the source of your child’s intolerance or allergy, you can head to the supermarket. Look for specialized infant formulas that are designed to meet the needs of sensitive babies.

There are several different options available to suit any dietary restrictions. For example, lactose intolerance or milk allergy is fairly common in many infants. There are alternatives to cows milk formula preparations to suit this condition.

Reduce Your Baby’s Risk Of Developing More Allergies
Your newborn’s digestive system takes some time to develop. Some care and knowledge are needed to avoid creating allergy problems that could last for years down the road. While breastfeeding, it is usually best to avoid foods that are common allergens. For a comprehensive list of these items, you can consult with your doctor or nutritionist.

Use caution when introducing solid foods or foods that contain some of the more common things that give children allergy issues. These include peanuts, eggs, fish, tree nuts, soy, and wheat. Once your baby is able to eat solid food, you can introduce these things slowly and in small amounts. If you notice that they cannot tolerate them well, pull back and stick with what has worked in the past.

Emergency Situations
If you notice that your child’s mouth, tongue, or throat is swelling up, or if they are having difficulty breathing, or have gone pale after eating a potentially problematic food item, then do not hesitate to call the emergency line and take your baby to the hospital right away. It is far better to be safe than sorry and severe allergic reactions in babies are a potentially life-threatening situation.

Continue To Learn More
Noticing that your baby has a food allergy can be frightening for a new parent. However, you have already taken the first step towards caring for your child properly by seeking more information.

Continue to learn more about your child’s condition. Just because your child has an allergy does not mean that they cannot enjoy a healthy variety of foods as they develop. In some cases, babies grow out of their allergies and can come to enjoy foods that they could not tolerate before.