And milk isn't the only offending food. Consider wheat,eggs, peanuts, corn and strawberries, to name a few more. The list goes on, and the symptoms range in severity from life-threatening to a case of the sniffles.
Here are some common symptoms. See if you recognize any of these with your child:
*Constant runny nose *Ear infections *Mouth breathing *Rashes *Eczema *Dark circles under the eyes *Pale puffy face *Stomach aches *Excessive gas *Constipation or diarrhea *Irritability
If you see a symptom that might describe your child, try keeping a food diary as best you can of what your child eats and the time he eats it. If you see a reaction, note it in the diary and the time the child reacted. After doing this for several days, you should notice a pattern if your child has a genuine food allergy.
The best way to avoid allergies is to vary your child's diet. This is easier than you may think. For starters, shop seasonally so that your produce is naturally varied: peaches in the summer and squash in the winter, for example. Try using kamut flour if you suspect a wheat allergy. It's worth the experimentation to get to the bottom of what's bothering your child.
If you have a breast-fed baby, you may want to wait at least 9 months before introducing any food at all, if you can, wait a year. The longer the child is on the breast, the better.
On older babies, wait at least 3-5 days when introducing new foods. Watch your baby like a hawk and make sure there is no reaction. A little sniffle can mean a lot.
Skin tests for allergies can often be inaccurate, however, you may wish to confer with your doctor before you decide how you want to treat your child.
Food allergies are the result of an inappropriate response by the immune system for foods that shouldn't be considered harmful. Strengthening your child's immune system is something you can do and should do, by feeding your child whole foods, avoiding artificial colorings, flavorings and sweeteners. Careful supplementation can help as well.
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