First Foods
Wait until your baby is four to six months old before starting solids foods and watch for signs that they are developmentally ready. When ready, most babies will be able to eat infant cereals (talk with your doctor before introducing wheat) mixed with breastmilk or your baby’s hypoallergenic formula. You can also think about adding single-ingredient baby foods, including fruits, vegetables, and meats, when your baby is ready for solid foods.
Common Allergenic Foods
If your baby has a severe allergy or more than one food allergy, their doctor may ask you to avoid giving your baby other foods that are known to cause most food allergies, such as milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and sesame, until there’s a chance for more evaluation.
If your baby’s doctor gives you the “green light” to try other foods that may cause allergies, follow these tips:
- Start the new food at home first, rather than at a day care or at a restaurant.
- Give your baby a small amount of food on the first try.
- If they don't react, you can slowly add more.
Reading Food Labels
By law, the nine major food allergens must be listed in ingredient statements when present in foods sold in the US. These nine food allergens are: milk, eggs, soy, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish and sesame. Always remember to read ingredient labels carefully because allergens can show up in unexpected places.
If your baby has a milk allergy, look for "milk" in the ingredient statement. The label may also say "contains milk," or you might find the word "milk" in parentheses after a less common form, such as "casein." For example, you may see "casein (milk)" in an ingredient list.
Remember that cow milk substitutes, such as goat-, soy-, nut-, or rice-based milks, should not take the place of infant formula or breastfeeding during the first year.
