Food Allergies in Infants & Toddlers—Nothing to Sneeze at  

As you begin moving your child to solid foods, you might notice an unusual reaction during or after feeding. Although it shouldn’t be ignored, an allergic reaction to food is not uncommon. It’s estimated that 1 in every 13 children in the United States has food allergies.^1,2 So, be alert when introducing new foods to your child, and look for the allergy symptoms noted below. 

Many foods can trigger an allergic reaction, and symptoms of food allergy vary among children. Some food allergies will go away as a baby grows older and some could be lifelong. If you suspect that your child may be experiencing symptoms of a food allergy, speak to your baby’s healthcare professional.

Although many concerned parents avoid giving their babies foods with potential allergens until late infancy or toddlerhood, this may not be the best idea. There is evidence that avoiding such foods, or delaying their introduction, doesn’t reduce the incidence of food allergies and has possibly increased them—particularly in high-risk infants.³  

Most moms love when their babies fall in love with fruits. But sometimes fresh fruits can put more on your little one’s face than a smile. 

Take the strawberry, for example. Fresh strawberries will sometimes cause a child to develop a rash around her mouth. It’s not always pretty, but most of the time this rash is an “irritation” reaction and not due to oral allergy syndrome. It can happen with other fresh fruits and berries, too.  

Oral allergy syndrome (OAS) is a form of a contact allergic reaction that may occur when raw fruits or vegetables are eaten. Because the proteins found in some fruits and vegetables are similar to those found in pollen, children with hay fever caused by pollen may experience symptoms such as itchiness or swelling of the lips, mouth, tongue, face, or throat when eating raw fruits and vegetables. OAS is considered to be a mild form of food allergy, but the foods that commonly cause OAS can be linked to more serious allergic reactions.

If you suspect oral allergy syndrome, contact your baby’s doctor.

Allergic reactions to foods may appear within a few minutes to several hours or even days after eating, and symptoms can take many forms. Typical food allergy symptoms in infants include: 

• Skin rash, flushed skin, or hives 
• Blood and/or mucus in the stool 
• Runny nose or sneezing 
• Swelling of the face, tongue, or lips 
• Excessive spit-up, vomiting, or diarrhea   

If you see an unusual reaction in your baby when you add a new food, call your healthcare professional. If your baby is having difficulty breathing or loses consciousness, call 911 immediately.   

Visit the Tummy Trouble Tool to troubleshoot  a feeding issue.   

When you introduce a new food to your baby, easy does it. Feed new foods one at a time every 3 to 5 days and in isolation from other foods. This way, a reaction to a specific food can be easier to identify, and you can discuss it with your baby’s doctor.

Keeping a food journal of successfully introduced foods and ones that caused minor reactions can help you accurately communicate with your child’s pediatrician.

If there is a family history of food allergies, your baby’s doctor may advise you to avoid multigrain cereals and mixed dishes at first; they contain multiple ingredients that can make identifying allergens harder if they arise.  

If you think your baby is allergic to a food you have fed him, contact your baby’s healthcare provider. 

Although many infants who are allergic to cow’s milk, wheat, soy, and eggs will eventually develop a tolerance, very few infants grow out of peanut allergies. One approach that may reduce the risk of your child developing a peanut allergy is to introduce peanut products around 4 to 6 months of age.   

• Seek guidance from your child’s healthcare provider to determine an appropriate plan for the introduction of peanut products.
• Babies should not be given whole peanuts due to the risk of choking. Be sure to use infant-safe forms of peanut such as thinned peanut butter or peanut powder mixed in age-appropriate foods. 

Peanut allergy tends to begin early in life and persist through adulthood. Allergic reactions to peanuts can range from mild to severe and even life-threatening. To avoid these reactions, people with peanut allergy must be vigilant about the foods they eat and the environments they enter.

National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in  the United States.

Here’s a helpful resource on peanut allergy prevention(PDF, 0.25 MB) from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID).

Call your healthcare professional if your baby: 

• Is crying excessively and you have ruled out hunger, wet diaper, exhaustion, being overly warm or cool, or external pain 
• Is younger than 2 months old and has a rectal temperature higher than 100.4°F 
• Refuses food for longer than is normal for him 
• Vomits excessively or has excessive diarrhea 

Listen to your instincts and talk to your healthcare professional about any food allergy concerns.

References: 1. United States Census Bureau QuickFacts (2015 and 2016 estimates). https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/US/RHI225218external icon 2. Gupta RS, et al.  Pediatrics. 2018;142(6):e20181235. 3. Du Toit G, et al. N Engl J Med. 2016;374(15):1435-1443.