How to Introduce Allergenic Foods To Your Baby

Introducing solid foods to your baby for the first time is a really exciting milestone, but it can also be nerve wracking, especially when it comes to foods that commonly cause allergies.

You might be uncertain when (or even if) you should introduce certain foods that could cause baby allergies. It gets even more confusing with foods you might be sensitive to, such as wheat or dairy. And if you have a family history of food allergies? It feels overwhelming!

Is earlier introduction better? Should you wait until after the first year? Should you do skin prick testing?

Let me reassure you mama—you got this! I had all these same questions when I started introducing solids to my own daughter. The good news is, there’s actually some new scientific literature that gives us great insight into how and when to introduce allergenic foods to babies. YAY science!

What are Allergenic Foods?

All foods have the potential to cause allergies, but there are some foods that more commonly cause allergies than others. These are the 8 most commonly allergenic foods:

• Dairy
• Soy
• Wheat
• Peanuts
• Tree Nuts
• Shellfish
• Eggs
• Fish

In the United States, allergies—both to these 8 foods and others—are on the rise. Between 1997 and 2011, food allergies in kids increased 50%. And peanut allergies have tripled in kids between 1997 and 2008.

The good news is the rise in allergies has led to a rise in allergy research, and today we know more about how to prevent allergies than ever before.

Allergies vs. Food Intolerances

Before addressing babies and food allergies, it’s important to note that not every negative reaction to a food is a true allergy.

Food allergies are an immune response to a food entering the body. They cause an immunoglobulin E (IgE) response and can result in hives, anaphylaxis, difficulty, breathing, and swelling. IgE food allergies usually develop in childhood (but not always) and usually can be decreased but can’t be completely overcome.

Many people also struggle with food intolerances. Food intolerances can develop at anytime in your life and can occur with any foods (including common allergenic foods), but when the body encounters a food it is intolerant to, there is no antigen-antibody response. The symptoms food intolerances can cause can be serious: bloating, digestive distress, headaches, skin rashes, fatigue, and more, but they aren’t an allergic reaction.

Food intolerances are often a result of imbalances in the gut or conditions like leaky gut or SIBO. Food intolerances can often be improved or overcome by healing the gut.

While food intolerances can be a serious issue, today I am specifically talking about food allergies (IgE). The process for preventing food allergies is different than the treatment/prevention of food intolerances, so this distinction is really important (especially when talking about baby allergies).

What the Research Says About Introducing Potentially Allergenic Foods

Here’s the good news: Multiple recent studies point to the same conclusion. Early introduction of allergenic foods is better for preventing allergies.

The most well-known research is the 2015 LEAP study, which focused on peanut allergies. The study found babies who had peanuts introduced before 12 months of age had significantly fewer peanut allergies at age 5 than those who didn’t get exposed to peanuts before turning one.

A 2017 study found kids who weren’t fed eggs, wheat, or dairy until after age one were significantly MORE likely to have an allergy than those who had these foods introduced as a baby.

Some research, like this 2016 study, showed that even earlier introduction—before 6 months of age—can significantly reduce the prevalence of allergies, too.

This is really important because for years, the advice was to avoid giving your baby potentially allergenic foods in their first year. Some experts also called for extended exclusive breastfeeding (avoiding solids before one year), but new research is flipping this on its head!

The takeaway: Earlier introduction is better than later for preventing food allergies. Most studies conclude the right time is between 4 and 11 months (but not before your baby is showing signs of readiness for solid food.)

Breastfeeding and Baby Allergies

As I mentioned earlier, some practitioners used to recommend extending exclusive breastfeeding as long as possible to try and prevent allergies, which goes against what modern researchers have found about babies and preventing food allergies.

But, new research also indicates breastfeeding is still really important for preventing baby allergies, it’s just not about delaying weaning or exclusively breastfeeding.

Instead, what may be the most important takeaway from all this research is introducing food while you’re still breastfeeding might help prevent baby allergies. In fact, the age of introduction might not even be as important as continuing to breastfeed while you’re introducing foods, especially allergenic ones.

A 2018 research review found special proteins found in breast milk may support the tolerance of solid foods, including common allergens. This same review concluded there was no benefit to pregnant or breastfeeding moms avoiding common allergens either.

Instead, the best thing you can do while you’re pregnant and breastfeeding is to regularly consume potentially allergenic foods. Continue doing so as you introduce those foods to your baby, too.

A Healthy Gut Helps Prevent Allergies, Too

There’s another layer to consider when talking about baby allergies, too: gut health.

A 2016 research review found both allergies and asthma are rooted in “microbiome deficiency” in early infancy. A baby’s microbiome is essentially all of the microorganisms (bacteria) that are populated the gut. The health of the microbiome plays a vital role in a baby’s health, and sets the stage for the development of the adult microbiome. Science has linked imbalances in gut bacteria with immune dysfunction and multiple chronic diseases.

A baby’s exposure to healthy bacteria begins in the birth canal, and is further populated through skin-to-skin contact, breastfeeding, and eventually probiotic foods and contact with the soil (yes, dirt). So, what causes microbiome deficiency in babies? Some common causes include:

• Caesarean birth
• Formula feeding (especially in the first 24 hours)
• Antibiotic use

But sometimes, a c-section or antibiotic use just can’t be avoided. That does not mean your baby’s microbiome is doomed. Here’s what can you can do to introduce more healthy bacteria:

• Breastfeed over formula feed as much as possible
• Expose your baby to your pets and the outdoors (especially dogs!)
• Use an infant probiotic (this is the one I like best)
• Introduce a wide variety of foods to your diet and to baby’s diet, including probiotic foods

Another thing to keep in mind? Excessive cleanliness and sterilization (both while you’re pregnant and once baby enters the world). Researchers found “the children exposed to the highest levels of both microbes and allergens had the lowest rate of development of atopy and recurrent wheeze, whereas those exposed to the lowest levels of both had the highest rates.”

Do I Have to Introduce Allergens to Baby?

Whether you have a family history of food allergies or you just avoid some of the more common allergenic foods yourself, you may be wondering if you even need to introduce all of the allergenic foods to your baby.

The common allergens don’t need to become staple foods in your baby’s diet, but it is a good idea to at least introduce them and continue exposure during the first year of life. Even if you’re strictly wheat-free at home, exposure to potential allergens at some point in your kid’s life is inevitable.

Most importantly, the LEAP study showed that once immune tolerance to peanuts was established, even if kids didn’t eat peanuts for the following year, they still kept immune tolerance. This is important because it means introducing allergenic foods in the first year can protect your baby from an allergy for life, even if you don’t plan to make the food part of their regular diet.

What about skin prick testing before introducing foods to try and prevent allergic reactions? For most babies, skin prick testing can lead to unnecessary food restrictions. The only exception might be if your baby has very severe eczema. Talk to your pediatrician in that case.

Introducing the widest variety of foods in the first year, while you’re still breastfeeding, is the best way to support the development of your baby’s microbiome and prevent allergies.

Introducing Allergenic Foods to Your Baby

The best way to start introducing allergenic foods to your baby is by consuming them while you’re pregnant and breastfeeding. If you’re allergic to a food, you shouldn’t eat it. But if you avoid a food because of preference or even a mild intolerance it can be worthwhile to rotate these foods in occasionally while you’re pregnant (especially 2nd and 3rd trimester) and breastfeeding.

As a side note, many women find that foods they are intolerant to no longer cause symptoms during pregnancy. So if you normally avoid wheat because it makes you feel bloated, you might find you can tolerate it just fine during pregnancy. This could be due to changes in the immune system during pregnancy.

If your baby reacts negatively to a food that you eat when you’re breastfeeding (this happened with my daughter anytime I ate eggs), you may want to take that food out of your own diet while you focus on building up baby’s gut through breastfeeding and/or adding in a probiotic. Try reintroducing it later on to your own diet again and see how baby reacts. Once your baby no longer reacts to the food in breastmilk, you can try introducing it directly, ideally still before 12 months of age.

When baby does start eating solids, first foods shouldn’t be the most common allergens. Instead, focus on iron, zinc, fat-soluble vitamins, and long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which are the nutrients babies need most as they transition to solids. Learn more about the best first foods for baby here.

Once your baby is eating solids regularly, you can start introducing allergenic foods systematically. A good day to introduce a potentially allergenic food is one when:

• Baby isn’t sick
• Baby is in their usual environment
• You’ll be with baby for at least 2 hours after they eat
• Baby hasn’t been introduced to any other new foods in the last 72 hours

How to Introduce Allergenic Foods to Your Baby

Step 1: Start with a small amount of one of the allergenic foods in a high-quality form appropriate for baby like:

• Nut butter thinned with breastmilk (2 teaspoons of nut butter is the recommended starting amount)
• Sprouted wheat bread
• Mashed egg yolks (I recommend introducing yolks and whites separately, then together)
• Grass-fed cheese or yogurt

Step 2: Start with a small taste, then wait five or ten minutes before offering another small taste. Observe for any signs of a reaction (see below).

Step 3: Repeat Step 2 at the next meal. If there’s no immediate signs of a reaction, gradually increase the quantity of that food over the next few days and allow baby to eat according to your normal mealtime habits. Keep a close eye on baby for the two hours after introducing for signs of a reaction, and be aware that a reaction can occur anytime in the 24 hours following introduction.

Once you’ve successful introduced the food and gradually increased exposure, you can continue to offer it to your baby as you would other foods. If baby has eczema or other food allergies, aim for 3 times a week exposure throughout the first year of life.

What to Do If Baby Has a Reaction

After baby’s first taste of a potentially allergenic food and for the two hours following, you’ll want to keep a close eye out for signs of a reaction, including:

• Skin rash
• Hives
• Itchiness
• Cough/difficulty breathing
• Swelling of the lips/face
• Vomiting or diarrhea

Reactions can be mild to severe. Mild reactions don’t necessarily mean your baby has an allergy, they can just be a result of a new food interacting with your baby’s gut and immune system for the first time. Remember, baby’s immune system is still developing and many babies “outgrow” allergies in their first year of life. You baby may overcome this small reaction through repeated, small exposure—as little as a finger dipped in thinned peanut butter.

Severe reactions are different, however. You should always talk to your pediatrician about severe reactions before trying to introduce the food again. And remember, always trust your gut and use your best judgement. If you feel you need to get medical attention, don’t hesitate.

But don’t let fear hold you back either! Early and repeat introduction while you’re still breastfeeding is the best way we know to prevent allergies.

You’ve Got This!

Introducing allergenic foods can feel very scary if you don’t have all the facts. I hope this information has left you feeling empowered instead of scared of introducing allergenic foods.

Here’s a quick recap:

• Expose yourself to allergenic foods in pregnancy and breastfeeding
• Support baby’s gut microbiome development with skin-to-skin, breastfeeding, and a probiotic (if necessary)
• Introduce allergenic foods between 4 and 11 months (but not before baby is showing signs of readiness for solids)
• Continue breastfeeding as you introduce allergenic foods
• Introduce as many allergenic foods as possible before 12 months—even if you don’t plan on making them a staple in your baby’s diet

And don’t forget—introducing new foods to your baby doesn’t have to be intimidating! If you’re stressed or anxious, baby will pick up on that energy. If your baby doesn’t like one of the allergenic foods you’ve introduced, that’s OK. Continue offering it as you would other foods, and enjoy the process.

Have any questions about introducing allergenic foods to baby? Ask away below!

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