Having kids is a huge adventure, but like any adventure, it comes with challenges that you need to overcome. One of those challenges for many parents is the allergies that their kids have to common foods. It’s important to understand the kinds of allergies that are common so you can keep your child safe and protect them in the event that they have an allergy themselves.
Nut Allergies
One of the most common allergies in children and adults is allergies to nuts. Some kids are allergic to peanuts while others are allergic to tree nuts, and some children are allergic to all kinds of nuts. You want to be careful about introducing nuts to your child so you can watch them and ensure they don’t have an allergy. It’s okay to start introducing nuts when your child is around nine months old, but you want to talk to your pediatrician first. They can give you further advice on when to give nuts and what form of nuts makes the most sense for your child.
Gluten Allergies
Many children are also allergic to gluten. This kind of allergy is important to detect as early as possible so you can avoid damage to their digestive system. If you think your child might have a gluten allergy, you need to seek out help from a doctor. A gastroenterologist can diagnose your child and determine if it’s celiac disease. With that diagnosis in hand, you can start adjusting their diet so that they can eat foods that are easier on their body and keep them feeling good.
Dairy
Dairy can also be an allergen for many children, so it is important to pay attention to how your child feels after eating or drinking dairy products. The symptoms of a dairy allergy can vary greatly both in severity and in how they present. If you suspect a dairy allergy, it can help to take a break from dairy to see if your child improves. Either way, it helps to talk to a doctor who can help you to assess the allergy and come up with a plan to address it.
When you know about possible allergies it can help you to make smart choices about introducing your child to new foods. Once you know about an allergy, you want to remove it from their diet so your child won’t experience any more symptoms. Pay attention to your child when they eat so you can catch any allergies early.
Check out this article on other dietary allergies that kids often have!
