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My husband and I were sitting in a check-up room at our daughter’s 4-month old wellness appointment when our doctor gave us the green light to begin trying solid foods. WHOOOO HOOO! praise break
Hearing those words, initially, filled me with excitement as this meant we were moving one step closer to the land of toddlerhood. Not to mention, our bank account would finally crack a smile again as we wouldn’t have to drop $30 weekly for formula. This excitement was soon overshadowed with an unexpected wave of fear and anxiety. The palpable feelings were steeped in the newly charted territory of the world of food allergies.
According to the CDC, food allergies affect about 8 percent of children in the United States which is equivalent to about 1 in 13 children. If your child doesn’t have food allergies, there is a high likeliness that someone in their class, childcare center, or even within your family has a food allergy.
According to the FDA, there are a total of eight legally recognized food groups that account for food allergies: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soybeans, and wheat. Food allergies can range in severity of the reaction and can surface within 2 minutes to 2 hours of exposure. Furthermore, reactions can begin mild and quickly turn to severe if left untreated. Some people, including children, have to carry an EpiPen, which contains a drug that slows the reaction caused by severe allergies.
Allergic reactions can include:
- Hives
- Flushed Skin or Rash
- Tingly or itchy sensation in the mouth
- Face, tongue, or lip swelling
- Stomach cramps
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Dizziness
- Coughing or wheezing
- Swelling of throat or vocal cords
- Difficulty breathing
As a mama with a young child exploring new foods for the first time, the terrifying and painstaking reality is that you will NOT know if your child is allergic to any foods until they are exposed. Exposure can be through airborne pathogens or physical taste. With gripping fear beginning to take over my thoughts, I began rattling off what felt like a million questions to our pediatrician. What should she eat first? What signs should I look for if she is allergic?
What should I do? I know I was excited just a few minutes ago, but can I just keep giving her formula for the rest of her life after all? Being the patient, informed, and matter-of-fact medical professional that I
had known her to be, she eased some of my manic thoughts by telling us that the likelihood of my precious little one having a food allergy was unlikely as my husband nor I have food allergies. She advised us to begin with puree veggies, fruits or baby cereal and to only introduce 1 new food every few days. This way if my daughter did present with an allergy, we would be able to narrow down the cause.
Now here comes the controversial medical advice. My pediatrician provided that according to new research in the pediatric field, studies had shown that it was now advised to expose children to the common allergy food groups sooner rather than later in her development. This meant that once my daughter was used to the process of eating, I should begin to give her foods like eggs or peanut butter.
Excuse me, ma’am? What? I was so shocked at this advice but I decided to keep an open mind as I trust her medical expertise. She gave us the literature of common signs and symptoms, what to do if my daughter
did present a reaction after exposure, and told me to call if I had any questions.
Over the next few months, I introduced my daughter to fruits, veggies, baby cereal, and other purees. I made a personal choice after conducting my own research and talking to some of my trusted circle, to
introduce her to eggs and nut butter closer to 9 months old. I am happy to report that as of today, at months old she has been exposed to almost all of the common food groups and has not presented with
any allergies.
To give perspective, I have had some close friends and family members who have had a different experience then we did with food allergies. In most instances, they were aware of personal food allergies that they or the child’s father had, however, the presentation of reaction in their children was
not always the same. Some began with a plan of food introduction while some did not know it was an issue until the child experienced a reaction. Through sharing my story, I hope that you take away that
although navigating food allergies can be a frightening aspect of your motherhood journey, you do not have to endure it alone or without proper information!
What was your experience introducing foods to
your little one?
Author’s Note: The purpose of this article is to share one mama’s experience with Food Allergies. Please remember to consult
your physician for all professional medical advice.
