FOOD ALLERGIES
Do not panic! If food allergies regularly affect babies and toddlers, various simple ways can be put in place to fix all this mess and soothe your loulou. Your leitmotiv in terms of food allergies: « prevention is better than cure »! First reflex to adopt in case of suspicion of food allergy: to rethink fundamentally the family food.
Feeding baby month by month, first, but also yours, if you are nursing, or even about to give birth.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms associated with a food allergy can occur within minutes, hours or days after ingesting an allergen.
The most frequent are:
* Eczema, urticaria, swollen red patches;
* Crying, irritability;
* Difficulty sleeping, rapid change in general condition
* Vomiting, repeated diarrhea, persistent constipation;
* Stunting or insufficient weight gain;
* Asthma, difficulty breathing, swelling of the lips, tongue and throat.
* asthme, difficultés à respirer, enflure des lèvres, de la langue et de la gorge.
Breastfeeding and allergies :
Studies have demonstrated a link between exclusive breastfeeding during the 4 to 6 months of lifetime allergy prevention. Adopting a special diet (eating restrictions or elimination) of the mother during pregnancy or lactation would not have a protective effect on food allergies, even if the child is at risk
Allergies and introduction of complementary foods
Baby is physically ready to eat complementary foods around 6 months. Moreover, early introduction of complementary foods – that is to say before the age of 4 months – would increase the risk of allergies, according to specialists.
However, contrary to what has long been recommended, delaying the introduction of certain foods beyond 6 months would not prevent the onset of allergies. There is no scientific evidence to demonstrate that the later introduction of allergenic foods would protect a child from allergies later on. On the contrary, it could even increase the risk.
However, you can take precautions to identify the food responsible for an allergic reaction. When your baby begins to eat solid foods, make sure to introduce only one food at a time. Start with 5 ml of puree and gradually increase the amount. It is not advisable to give it raw food when eating it for the first time. Cooking reduces the allergenic effect of foods, especially fruits and vegetables.
At first, avoid giving them foods that contain several allergens and wait 3 to 5 days before offering a new food. For example, if your child has allergy symptoms, you will know the cause.
If you think your child has had an allergic reaction to a food, it is important to consult a doctor or pediatrician for a diagnosis.
Starting from food diversification and up to 3 years, 4 of the main allergens are: cow’s milk protein, peanut, egg and fish. The symptoms may vary, but the solution remains the same: eviction of the allergen.
Here are some tips to avoid them :
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