It was a regular Saturday and nothing was out of the ordinary. In between gawking over our “brilliant” 6-month-old’s new tricks, we were in the process of introducing solid baby foods for the first time. For lunch that day was a simple, harmless vegetable: green beans. But not so fast. This quiet Saturday afternoon would change our lives forever. It never, ever crossed our minds that this would be the day that our baby would brush with death for the first time. And all because of one single piece of food.
I don’t recall how long we waited to put the baby down for his afternoon nap after he ate the green beans, but we didn’t see any signs of distress. We couldn’t have. We were first-time parents who called the pediatrician for every sniffle and who flew into panic mode for the smallest bump on the head. And then we decided to nap, too. Afterall, sleep when Baby sleeps, right?
What Happened?!
When I woke, I didn’t hear the baby stirring so I tiptoed into the nursery to check on him. What I saw in that moment is something no parent should ever have to see: our baby boy, limp and unresponsive in his hand-me-down crib. He was covered in a rash from head to toe and was sleeping in a pool of vomit. I made some kind of screaming noise and my tousled-hair husband flew in. We scooped up our boy, jumped in our car and drove as quickly as possible to the nearest emergency room. When we got there, our baby’s body was grayish and he wasn’t moving. We did not lose him that day, but it took us a long time to figure out what the culprit actually was.
At first, doctors thought it was a virus. But it wasn’t. Instead, it was the beginning of a journey that completely altered the trajectory of our relatively carefree lives. Over time, and with the help of a team of doctors, our son was diagnosed with severe food allergies. We were going to have to learn how to feed a baby who has food allergies. It was scary at first, trying to navigate and understand the seriousness of his condition. Beyond scary. And it was the start of learning anything and everything about what we could or could not feed our little one.
Food Allergies Continue to Rise
Chances are you know a baby who has food allergies. That’s because food allergies continue to rise. The Food Allergy Research & Education organization reports that the prevalence of food allergies has increased by 50 percent since the 1990s for no clear reason. But before you think you can self-diagnose your baby’s food allergy, you can’t. The symptoms mimic those of other health conditions, so you need confirmation. If you suspect an allergy, see your pediatrician as soon as possible. If they concur, you will be referred to a a pediatric allergist for confirmation. And so your puzzling journey begins. It’s a puzzle because you have to figure it out.
“The most valuable information for an allergist is a detailed food history,” says Stacy Dorris, M.D., a pediatric allergist and director of the Food Allergy Clinic at Monroe Carrell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt. Be prepared to write down everything that you feed your little one and bring your list with you to the allergist.
Get Educated
The list of food allergies your baby receives will be unique to them and it will be overwhelming to you at first. That’s because your baby has to eat and it’s up to you to feed them as you navigate around the allergens. Getting good nutrition into a food-allergic baby can be tough. So you must educate yourself and everyone in your baby’s circle of support on what Baby can and cannot have. Putting a plan in place will help to make feeding easier and more manageable. Your plan will guide you as you monitor Baby’s intake and try new items all while being diligent and trying to make eating fun and delicious.
And you’re not alone. Keep up your regular pediatric checkups for guidance and to check on your little one’s proper development.
“The first year is an important time for neurodevelopment and growth,” says Michael Pistiner, M.D., spokesperson for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America. “Poor growth — including poor weight gain — can be a sign of poor nutrition.”
It’s all about working around food allergens and your specialist will inform on how to do that. The top known food allergens are cow’s milk; eggs; wheat; soybeans; tree nuts; peanuts; fish; shellfish; and sesame. But your baby can be allergic to any food.
Getting Nutrition to Baby
Meanwhile, all of the food groups in the top nine allergens provide specific dietary needs, so if you have to eliminate something, you will need to substitute another food to satisfy your baby’s nutrition.
“Work with your health care team to know what it is that you need to avoid and then work with them to keep your baby’s diet as broad as possible,” says Pistiner. “Include foods that may contain micronutrients and vitamins commonly found in the foods that need to be excluded,” he adds.
And you will need to create a plan for your home — and for your diaper bag for when you are out and about.
“Think through the way you live and make a choice,” Dorris says. “If you eliminate a food allergen from your home you will have little to no risk of exposure. But some families decide to take a more normalized approach and choose to educate and label foods; there is no right or wrong way to do it, just make a functional plan and stick to it,” she says.
Your New Normal
Leaving your home and attending functions with food will become your norm, so you will need to plan ahead. Always keep safe food with you in addition to all of the necessary medicines your child may require (like an EpiPen). And don’t worry about bothering people with your child’s dietary needs. As your baby’s number-one advocate, their safety is your top concern, so educate your family and friends in a gentle but firm way. Be direct and repetitive until everyone is comfortable with the information. Anyone who cares for your baby should know about their food allergies and what to do if they suspect they have come in contact with an allergen.
You may wonder if food allergies will continue for your child as they grow. Babies can outgrow some food allergies as their digestive systems develop, however severe allergies like those to peanuts, fish or shellfish may last a lifetime.
But take heart. I can tell you that our family has learned to manage, cope and thrive amid all of the food allergy uncertainties and yours can, too. Consider it important parent work for your little love.
READ MORE!
Easy Does It When Starting Solids
What to Know About Kids and Food Allergies
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