As you start solid foods, introducing your baby to one new food for three to five days at a time is a good way to check for allergic reactions. That's why Beech-Nut®* Stage 1® foods are single–ingredient foods. Also, all Beech-Nut cereals are soy–free (with the exception of DHA PLUS™ cereals), because soy is a common allergen.
Here's some basic information about babies and food allergies:
What Are the Most Common Food Allergies in Babies?
- Milk and other dairy products
- Eggs: Egg yolks are typically introduced at 6 to 10 months of age as a good source of protein. While some babies can be allergic to egg whites, most can eat egg yolks.
- Peanuts
- Soy products
- Gluten: A protein found in some cereal, such as those with wheat, gluten is responsible for a serious but very rare intestinal disorder called "celiac disease." Talk to your health care professional before trying cereals or foods with wheat.
Are There Other Foods to Be Concerned About?
Fresh strawberries sometimes can cause food reactions in babies. Cooked strawberries usually do not because heat pasteurization destroys the substance responsible for reactions. So, Beech-Nut includes strawberries in Stage 2® combination foods. Babies usually are ready for Stage 2 at about 6 months.
Some potentially high–allergen foods usually not fed to babies are fish, shellfish, peanuts, and tree nuts. Any food can cause an allergy. Check with your health care professional if your baby shows any sign of an allergic reaction.
What Does an Allergic Reaction Look Like?
Food allergy reactions vary greatly. Symptoms can include difficulty breathing, diarrhea, vomiting, skin rash, coughing, runny nose, or watery eyes. If you see anything unusual in your baby when you add a new food, call your health care professional immediately. Introducing just one new food every three to five days can help you detect a food that triggers an allergic reaction. If your baby is fussy after eating a specific food, you can find help troubleshooting the problem at Fussy Feeder 411.