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Food allergies in babies seem to becoming more prevalent. A food allergy in a baby will cause severe discomfort and can also become life threatening. A food allergy is a immunological reaction in the body.

In a babies first year of life, they may present with allergic reactions due to milk or soy protein present in infant formulas and also found in breast milk. Symptoms can develop within minutes or hours of ingestion of the food culprit. Some gastrointestinal symptoms may present over the course of a week.

Symptoms of a food allergy are: vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and bloody stools.
Babies that are at high risk are those that have asthma. They will present with swelling of the airways, and can go in to anaphylactic shock.

Milder reactions can include eczema, hives, and slight skin rashes. Irritability and excessive crying that mimics infant colic may also be present as a symptom.

There is some research to suggest that a baby can develop and allergy during the last trimester of pregnancy. This may be caused by the mother's diet.

For a baby who is breast fed, often the mother will need to cease intake of dairy products and take a calcium supplement of 1500 milligrams. For babies that are not breast fed a hypoallergenic formula will be needed.

Do not start a baby on solids till six months of age. If allergic symptoms are already present, please read labels on food products. If they contain casein, whey or soy, do not use.

If your baby has had one severe allergy reaction, your physician will issue you an epi pen for emergencies. It would also be wise to keep antihistamines on hand.

Now for the good news! Most babies will out grow an allergy by eighteen months of age. Suspect foods can then be reintroduced in to the child's diet slowly.

Learn more about this author, Deirdre Field.
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