When your baby is ready (usually at around 6 months of age, but not before 4 months), introduce complementary foods (solids) alongside their usual milk. Never add salt or sugar to their food as babies don't need it.
The most common allergens for children are egg, peanut and tree nuts, milk, fish, seafood, soya, sesame and wheat. Aim to introduce these foods before 12 months of age, one new food at a time. Once you know your baby is able to tolerate these, give regularly as part of their usual diet (at least once a week) as this may help to reduce their chance of developing an allergy to that food later.
Mothers should continue to breastfeed whilst introducing solid foods, if possible throughout the first year of life (WHO recommend until 2 years). This may support the baby’s development of tolerance to new foods and there are many other benefits of continued breastfeeding. If formula feeding the advice is to use a standard cow’s milk formula rather than a hypoallergenic formula (unless the baby is allergic to cow’s milk).
Eczema should be well controlled i.e. skin clear prior to introducing allergenic foods and baby should be well and recovered from any illness (no temperature, no cough/cold, ideally not just had a vaccination).
Parents are often concerned about their baby having a food allergy if an older sibling has a food allergy but recent studies have found that this alone does not significantly increase the risk of food allergy in an infant sibling. If someone in the home has a food allergy, families need to plan how to introduce that food into the baby’s diet, whilst keeping the person with the food allergy safe.
GUIDANCE:
1. Some babies will develop a food allergy despite following this advice.
2. Always stay with your baby when feeding them.
3. If you think your baby is having a reaction (see BSCAI guidelines for what to expect in terms of reactions), stop giving the food and seek medical advice. Referral to specialist allergy clinic is recommended for all infants with immediate‐type food allergy.
