Complete Guide to Baby Food Allergies: Symptoms, Prevention & Management

Worried about allergies when starting solids? Learn how to identify allergy symptoms and safely introduce new foods to your baby.

What is a Food Allergy?

A food allergy occurs when the immune system mistakenly identifies certain food proteins as harmful and overreacts. About 6-8% of infants have food allergies.

Note: According to research, most food allergies improve with age. Milk, egg, wheat, and soy allergies naturally resolve in over 80% of children before school age.

Top 8 Allergens

Food	Allergy Rate	Outgrowth Rate
Milk	2-3%	80% (by age 5)
Eggs	1.5-2%	70% (by age 5)
Wheat	0.4-1%	65% (by age 5)
Soy	0.4%	70% (by age 5)
Peanuts	1-2%	20%
Tree nuts	0.5-1%	10%
Fish	0.4%	Low
Shellfish	1-2%	Low

Recognizing Allergy Symptoms

Immediate Reactions (Minutes to 2 Hours)

Skin Symptoms (Most Common, 80-90%):

• Hives (raised red welts)
• Itching
• Rash around mouth
• Swelling

Digestive Symptoms:

• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain

Respiratory Symptoms:

• Sneezing, runny nose
• Coughing
• Wheezing

🚨 Emergency: Anaphylaxis

Seek immediate emergency care if:

• Difficulty breathing with widespread hives
• Swelling of lips, tongue, or throat
• Loss of consciousness
• Rapid or weak pulse
• Blue lips or nails

Safe Introduction of Solids

Basic Principles

1. 3-5 Day Rule

• Introduce new foods one at a time, 3-5 days apart
• Start with small amounts

2. Morning/Afternoon Timing

• Allows time to observe reactions
• Avoid new foods at night

3. Keep Records

• Log food, amount, time
• Note any reactions
• Use BebeSnap app

Track with BebeSnap

Recording is essential for allergy prevention and tracking. BebeSnap helps you:

• Record new food introduction dates
• Note reactions with photos
• Use AI analysis to identify patterns
• Share records with your doctor

👉 Learn more about BebeSnap Feeding Records