Introducing allergens without the fear
Introducing allergens comes with its own particular kind of alertness. You give the egg, or the toast with a scrape of smooth peanut butter, and then you watch.
For most families, it goes by without anything happening at all. It can still feel like a lot, especially the first time, so this post sets out what the NHS says about it, clearly marked as theirs, and then the part we can help with: keeping a calm, simple record.
This is not medical advice. If you have any questions about your own baby, your GP, health visitor, or a dietitian if one is involved, are the people to ask.
What the NHS says
NHS Best Start in Life has a page on food allergies and weaning. The key points, in its terms:
The foods that can trigger allergic reactions include cows' milk (in cooking or mixed with other food), eggs, foods that contain gluten (including wheat, barley and rye), nuts and peanuts (served crushed or ground, or as smooth peanut butter or smooth nut butter), seeds (crushed or ground), soya, fish and shellfish (not raw or lightly cooked).
Introduce them one at a time, in very small amounts, so you can spot any reaction.
Once a food has been introduced and tolerated, keep offering it as part of your baby's usual diet, to minimise the risk of allergy.
If your baby already has eczema or a food allergy, or if there's a family history of food allergies, eczema, asthma or hay fever, the NHS suggests speaking to your GP or health visitor first, before introducing these foods.
Most of these are introduced from around 6 months, alongside other first foods. The NHS guide to starting solids covers the wider picture, and there is a plain summary in our post on starting solids in the UK.
Signs of a reaction, and what to do
The NHS lists signs of an allergic reaction that can include diarrhoea or vomiting, a cough, wheezing and shortness of breath, an itchy throat and tongue, itchy skin or a rash, swollen lips and throat, a runny or blocked nose, and sore, red and itchy eyes.
The NHS says to call 999 if your baby has swelling of the lips, face or tongue, or any trouble breathing. For a milder rash or reaction, speak to your GP.
The NHS page on anaphylaxis lists signs of a severe reaction including swelling of the throat and tongue, difficulty breathing or breathing very fast, wheezing or noisy breathing, and blue, grey or pale skin, lips or tongue.
That is the serious part, and it is worth knowing. It is also worth saying that for most babies, introducing allergens is uneventful.
Why writing it down helps
The hard part of allergen introduction usually is not the moment itself. It is remembering afterwards.
Which foods have you offered? On which days? How much? Has egg been offered three times or four? Was the rash on the day you tried something new, or the day after, and had anything else changed?
Three weeks in, that is a lot of small details, and they are exactly the ones a GP, health visitor or dietitian will ask about. A written record means you can answer with what actually happened rather than a best guess.
What to note
Keep it simple:
What you offered, and roughly how much.
When, the day and time.
How it went. Eaten, refused, mostly on the floor.
Anything you noticed afterwards, in your own words, and when.
That is enough. You do not need to monitor your baby in a way that stops you enjoying the meal.
In Littles, allergen introductions sit alongside the rest of your baby's day, with a place to record any reaction. If you are working through a milk ladder your GP or dietitian has given you, you can follow its stages in the app, written in your own words. Nothing in the app decides what your baby should try next. That stays with you and whoever is supporting you.
Keeping it in proportion
Allergen introduction can loom larger than it needs to, particularly if you have read a lot about it late at night. A few things that help:
Pick a calm moment. Earlier in the day, when your baby is well and you can keep an eye on them afterwards, works for a lot of families.
One new allergen at a time. This is the NHS advice, and it also makes your record far easier to read.
Keep going with the foods that went fine. The NHS says to keep them in your baby's usual diet.
Ask for help early. If something worries you, even if it seems small, speak to your GP or health visitor.
When to speak to someone
Please talk to your GP or health visitor:
before you start, if your baby has eczema or a known food allergy, or if there's a family history of food allergies, eczema, asthma or hay fever, as the NHS suggests
if you notice any signs of a reaction after introducing a food
if you are feeling anxious about introducing allergens and would like support
And the NHS says to call 999 if your baby has swelling of the lips, face or tongue, or any trouble breathing.
Littles is free to download, and logging feeds, sleep and nappies stays free for as long as you want it.
Your baby's own 24 hour sleep needs, and the rest of the analysis screens, are part of premium. Two weeks free to try, then £6.99 a month or £50 a year.
Sources: NHS Best Start in Life guidance on food allergies and weaning; NHS guidance on your baby's first solid foods and anaphylaxis.
Related reading: Starting solids in the UK: when and how
