When it comes to introducing complementary feeding, there are lots of things needed to be considered before starting solid food. The point is that until the age of 6 months a kid is under breast milk protection which gives it the necessary nutrition for development. However, when you start including solid food, there might be some difficulties like allergies or food intolerance. That is the reason you should carefully select the products and snacks for feeding. For instance, not all baby snacks are made safely. There could be some manufacturers with an untrustworthy reputation so you can visit the website source link to find out more about the proper snack selection.
Even if you select natural products, there could be issues with the kid’s reaction to some food. It is best to introduce allergens early in a baby’s life, as in some cases it may even help prevent future allergies or detect any serious reactions early in development. Let’s find out the safest ways to introduce allergens to our baby.
Introduce Doubtful Products into the Diet Earlier
It is important to include allergenic food into the kid’s diet as early as possible. Once your little one is four or six months, you can properly test its reactions to complementary food. But which products to use during this period?
Foods that can cause an allergic reaction or intolerance are milk, egg, wheat, soy/soybeans, peanuts, nuts, fish, and sometimes even sesame seeds, as well as products that contain the above components. Numerous studies have shown that introducing allergens to babies at the beginning of their first year (4-6 months) prevents the development of food allergies as a child grows. Early exposure to allergens can allow you to see any physical discomfort, and allergies can be spotted and quickly managed before they become serious.
Wait until a Baby is Ready for Solid Food
This is one of the easiest tips to follow. Do not start giving baby products that it is not yet ready to consume. Some kids are ready for solid food and can eat pureed and normal food by six months of age, while some are not. When a kid begins to wean off liquids (breast milk or baby formula) it is officially time to introduce allergenic foods.
However, even right after a baby refuses the formula, it doesn’t mean you can give a whole peanut, as a child might choke. When you feel that your little one will be ready to eat solid food, it should be presented safely. There are different natural puree or baby snacks that are easy to consume and are quite tasty for kids. You can find out more about baby snacks here: source link.
Look for Allergies’ Signs
Before starting to introduce allergens into your kid’s diet, you should know what the negative reaction in a kid looks like. It’s especially important because food allergies can have both mild and severe reactions.
The most obvious signs of a food allergy are eczema which can occur as rashes on various parts of the body that itch and burn. Other common and less obvious allergy symptoms will often be digestive issues such as diarrhea, vomiting, etc. If a child has no visible signs of an allergic reaction, then there is no reason to believe that it will appear later. According to Main Street Pediatrics, many serious reactions usually occur about 10 to 15 minutes after eating, but some mild reactions can begin to appear hours later.
Try Use Specially Designed Allergens Products
When you start looking for solid foods for your little one try to diversify its diet by selecting products that are specifically designed to introduce a baby to allergens. Baby food companies produce products specifically designed to introduce allergens into babies’ diets as early as possible and to keep their part of their daily diet well into the future.
