Infant Food Allergy Resources

When searching for infant food allergy resources, parents need to realize that their beautiful new baby is part of a whole kid community with similar conditions.

Where do you go for help?

The immediate resources

The obvious answer seems to be your pediatrician, general practitioner or health visitor. However they may not be available when you are at your lowest, with an angry or irritable baby covered in a rash at 2 a.m. or on Sunday morning when all the surgeries are shut. So, what do you do now?

Often-overlooked resources

First of all contact your family. If your baby has a food allergy the chances are that someone you are closely related to had a similar problem - a sister, a cousin , your mother or mother in law.

Was it the same allergy? How did they cope?

Sharing notes may not cure the problem , but it certainly helps to know that you aren't the only one going through this. And note that word 'through' - this is part of your life right now. But the chances are that the problem will disappear or you will be better able to cope with it quite soon.

Other infant food allergy resources

Look at web sites such as Food Allergy Initiative. On their web site you can find out about research into the situation and read articles about subjects such as living with food allergies and how they occur. They will tell you which foods to avoid, treatment that is available and just about anything else you want to know.

One word of warning  though... the articles do tend to stress extreme reactions - the kind that most babies do not have.

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There are also links to such things as support groups, helpful food companies and other informational sites.

There are sites such as Allergy Moms which, while it says it is not a substitute for professional medical advice, may have just the kind of support and backup that you need.

Support groups  

Most babies grow out of food allergies by their second or third year. So, it is likely that this is a passing phase in your life, but someone else may be just at the beginning. Perhaps it is you that can be the support, you that can start a local group. Again your clinic may be able to help you to contact other affected families.

You don't need lots of equipment, or even medical knowledge always - what you do need is to know where these are available and to be able to share your worries (and your tips) with like minded people.

Infant food allergy resources if you live in remote areas

It may be that your child has a particular problem such as asthma as a result of a food allergy. Groups such as the Consumer Health Alliance for Safe Medication are ones I can recommend, even if you live in a fairly remote place. 

Their 'Breatherville' page has lots of resources to explore from legislation to healthy living. There are stories from real families as well as tips such as what information to give your child's nursery school or baby sitter, resources for schools dealing with asthmatic pupils or advice on how to rid your home of irritating substances.

If the problems do persist past infancy there are just as many resources out there for older children teens and adults.

Finally, however hard it may sometimes seem, someone has been there already. The trick is just to get in contact with them through the various resources.

2. Keep a good record
If you keep a record of which foods have been taken it will make the matter easier to sort out, as will only introducing one new food at a time i.e. starting with apple sauce rather than a mixed fruit puree. Then you need to wait four or five days before introducing another new food, as in some cases symptoms may take up to 72 hours to develop.

3. Look for any symptoms
Look out for symptoms such as a snuffly nose, wheezing, a rash, vomiting and puffy eyes. Some will have colic. However other things can bring on exactly the same symptoms. If your baby seems to be having a mild reaction simply stop giving the latest food and see if the symptoms settle down. If they do, simply stop giving that particular food. Eventually it can probably be reintroduced once your child is past infancy.

4. Read the labels
It will mean a careful reading of labels if you are using commercially made foods. Quite often you will find that the ingredient causing the problem is not one that you would expect. My own daughter had a huge reaction to some antibiotic, so much so that she was in hospital for a week. The antibiotic was doing a good job, but it was the coloring. The strange thing is, at that time colorings weren't mentioned on antibiotic bottles. But that has now changed.

You may find milk products in baby rusks. Lactose is derived from milk for instance and so is casein. Soya products are sometimes another hidden ingredient that can cause problems in a few cases. For more information read our food allergy guide or this informative guide to preventing food allergies naturally.

5. Be aware of kind hearted people
Another problem is kind hearted people - in the crèche at church perhaps or the neighbor you ask to baby sit for half an hour, even a grandparent. Such people mean well, but sometimes seem unable to stop giving your baby a biscuit.

A particular brand from a well known supermarket was our problem. It was three weeks before I found that my daughter's irritable behavior, loose stools and red face was because someone was giving her a biscuit every Sunday morning. So, if you leave a small baby with even the most trusted person for a while, do give instructions and provide your own food if necessary.

Preventing infant food allergies isn't always entirely possible, but by taking the right steps they need not get out of hand.