Moms can start introducing allergens to children when they introduce solids, usually at around 6 months of age. This guide reveals how to introduce an allergen to a baby safely and quickly. We also share practical tips and tell you what to do if your baby has a reaction, so stay tuned and take note.
For closely related guidance, read our article: What to Do If Your Baby is Refusing Solids?.
Common Food Allergens for Babies
First, moms should acknowledge “allergens” – components of foods that can cause allergic reactions. These reactions occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly identifies these components as harmful and triggers a defensive response.
While allergens are harmless to most people, they can cause severe symptoms in some individuals, including infants.
According to the AAP, about 90% of food allergies stem from the following 8 allergens[1]:
- Wheat
- Cow’s milk
- Eggs
- Peanuts
- Tree nuts
- Fish
- Crustacean shellfish
- Soybeans
Common symptoms of an allergic reaction include:
- Itching
- Flushing
- Hives
- Swelling
- Vomiting
- Excessive crying
- Breathing difficulties (wheezing)
- Low blood pressure
The most severe form of an allergic reaction is anaphylaxis, which requires immediate treatment with an adrenaline injection.
During an anaphylactic attack, the ingestion of an allergen can cause swelling in the mouth, throat, and face, blocking the airways and making it difficult to breathe.
An anaphylactic reaction can be life-threatening, so it is crucial to take precautions to avoid such attacks.
Is My Baby at Risk of Allergies?
Food allergies affect approximately 1 to 2 out of every 20 children. Besides, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) studied 74 children over a month[2], and here’s what they found:
- 62 children (84%) had an IgE-mediated allergy (a common type of food allergy).
- 8 children (11%) had a mix of IgE and non-IgE-mediated allergies.
- 4 children (5%) had non-IgE-mediated allergies.
These statistics indicate that food allergies are prevalent among children.
If your baby is at a potentially higher risk of food allergies, there are several indicators to consider[3]:
- Babies with one allergy are more likely to react to other allergens.
- If you or your partner have allergies, your baby’s risk increases.
- If older siblings have a peanut allergy, the baby is also seven times more likely to develop one.
- Babies with mild, moderate, or severe eczema are more prone to food allergen reactions. Early introduction of allergenic foods might help babies with eczema develop tolerance, whereas skin exposure to allergens could increase allergy risk. We recommend using eczema-specific products to nourish and protect your baby’s sensitive skin, reduce the risk of allergen exposure, and promote overall skin health.
Get Little Étoile Head To Toe Wash For Dry, Sensitive & Eczema-prone Skin (0+ Months) to gently cleanse, soothe, and moisturise eczema-prone skin.
When to Introduce Allergens?
When introducing solids to your baby, typically around 6 months but not before 4 months, you can also introduce common allergy foods before they turn 1 year old to potentially reduce their allergy risk.
How Should I Introduce Allergens?
When starting solids, it is safest to start with allergen-free foods. In this period, look for products rigorously tested for allergens to ensure your baby is exposed to allergens in a safe and controlled environment.
If using premade baby food along with fresh foods, the Little Etoile Organic pouches are a good choice: These products are all batch-tested for the 8 most common allergens (egg, gluten, milk (except in custard and risotto varieties), peanut, soy, crustacea, sesame, and fish).
Since most pre-packaged baby food contains more than one ingredient, it can be challenging to introduce one allergenic food at a time as recommended. For the first introduction of allergenic foods, parents should use single-ingredient foods to monitor for reactions accurately. This way, if a reaction occurs, it is clear which food caused it.
In case there is no reaction, continue offering the food twice a week to maintain tolerance. Gradually increase the amount if there is no adverse reaction.
Before feeding a new food, test it by rubbing a small amount on the inside of your baby’s lip. If there is no reaction within a few minutes, your baby can try eating it. Avoid testing by rubbing food on their skin, as this does not predict allergic reactions.
Once starting solids, allergens can be introduced one at a time, in small amounts, under your close supervision. If there is no adverse reaction, babies should eat the allergenic food three times per week to help build up immune tolerance.
Below are guidelines for introducing common allergens to a baby safely:
| Allergen | Guidelines for Introduction | Additional Notes |
| Peanut | Introduce at 4-6 months in a smooth texture (e.g., peanut butter, ground peanuts, peanut butter powder, or peanut flour). | Peanuts carry the greatest risk and are the most common cause of anaphylaxis. Children who are tolerant of peanuts should use them regularly, about two teaspoons three times per week, to increase tolerance. |
| Tree Nuts | Introduce at 4-6 months in a smooth texture or non-choking form (e.g., nut butter blended into fruit puree). | |
| Egg | Introduce at 4-6 months, ensuring it is heated and cooked. | Early introduction may reduce the risk of egg allergy. |
| Cow’s Milk | Early exposure (4-6 months) may reduce allergy risk. Start with some yoghurt, cheese, or use milk in cooking. | Breast milk or iron-fortified infant formula should remain the main source of nutrition until 12 months. |
| Wheat | Introduce at around 6 months with solids in forms such as infant cereals and pasta. | There is no evidence that early introduction reduces the risks of wheat allergy, intolerance, or coeliac disease. |
| Fish | Introduce at 6-10 months, starting with fish oil, then as a solid, in a controlled manner. | Delayed introduction is associated with increased allergy risk. Maternal fish consumption can reduce allergy risks for the baby through breast milk. |
FAQs
1. Is 10 months too late to introduce allergens?
While it’s best to introduce them between 4 to 6 months, doing so at 10 months is still not too late. However, all babies should have common allergy-causing foods by 12 months. Delaying beyond this age may increase allergy risks.
2. Is it better to introduce allergens early?
Yes, it is better to introduce certain allergens early. Research, including the LEAP study, supports the early introduction of allergenic foods like peanuts to reduce the possibility of developing food allergies in infants[4].
Reference
- AAP Clinical Report Highlights Early Introduction of Peanut-based Foods to Prevent Allergies. (2019, March 18). HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/news/Pages/Early-Introduction-of-Peanut-based-Foods-to-Prevent-Allergies.aspx
- (2018, October 11). Growth of children with food allergies in Singapore. National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6209600/
- Early Introduction and Food Allergy Prevention. Food Allergy Research & Education. https://www.foodallergy.org/research-innovation/accelerating-innovation/early-introduction-and-food-allergy-prevention#:~:text=Introducing%20certain%20allergens%20into%20a,risk%20of%20those%20food%20allergies.&text=Be%20sure%20to%20visit%20FoodAllergyPrevention,in%20babies%20before%20they%20start.
- Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP). (2015). FoodAllergy.org. https://www.foodallergy.org/resources/learning-early-about-peanut-allergy-leap
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and should not be used to diagnose health conditions or make changes to medical treatments. Always consult with your healthcare professional for advice.
