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Eggs are one of the nine FDA-recognized common food allergens in the United States. Introducing your baby to common food allergens, such as eggs, can be overwhelming and raise many questions. Gerber connected with Dr. Cleary, MD, Senior Director of Education and Support Programs at FARE (the Food Allergy Research and Education organization) to provide answers to parents’ top questions about egg introduction.
Q: What is the first step in getting ready to offer eggs to my baby?
A: Each baby develops at their own pace, but most babies are ready for solid food around 4-6 months. Signs that an infant is developmentally ready include good head and neck control, sitting upright unassisted (or with minimal support), and showing a general interest in food.
Typically, it’s recommended to start solid foods with lower allergenic foods first, such as grains, fruit, or vegetables. This is why many caregivers choose to start with infant cereal or pureed banana or sweet potato.
Studies show that early introduction of allergens can be beneficial in preventing food allergies, especially in those that are high risk. You can begin to introduce food allergens at the same time as other baby foods, offering infant-safe forms of top allergen foods, for example mashed, well-cooked eggs.
Q: How do I prepare the egg for my baby to eat?
A: All eggs served to infants should be well-cooked to avoid foodborne illness. Offer eggs in developmentally appropriate textures. A well-cooked egg that is mashed and mixed with a puree of a fruit or vegetable that is already tolerated is a good place to start.
Once a baby is 6 months old, a family may choose a baby-led feeding approach by offering thin strips of well-cooked egg.
Q: Does my baby need exposure to egg yolk? Egg white? Or both?
A: You should expose your baby to both egg yolk and egg white in hopes of decreasing the risk of developing an allergy to either one.
Q: Should my baby have had other food allergens before or after introducing egg?
A: It is important to remember, you can be allergic to any food. Introduce single-ingredient, infant safe foods every 2-3 days to monitor for any reactions. Once your baby has tolerated some foods with a low allergy risk, you can begin to introduce more highly allergenic foods.
Currently, there is no defined order for introduction of allergens, but consider offering allergenic foods that are regularly served in your home. Since there is very good evidence that introducing infant-safe peanut can help prevent a peanut allergy, it’s a good idea to consider introducing this early too. After peanut, you might consider egg, wheat, soy, tree nut and milk products (not whole milk until age 1).
Q: How will I know if my baby is having an allergic reaction?
A: An allergic reaction is an immune system response. The most common reaction seen in infants is mild, with symptoms such as a rash, vomiting or diarrhea. If you suspect a reaction, stop feeding that food and speak with your pediatrician or other pediatric healthcare provider.
If your baby has a more severe reaction, which is very unlikely, you may notice symptoms such as irritability, wheezing, or breathing difficulties. In the unlikely event of a severe reaction, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Q: Who can I contact for additional information?
A: Call your pediatrician or other pediatric healthcare provider if you have any concerns. You can access more information about early introduction of allergenic foods at FoodAllergyPrevention.org
About FARE
FARE (Food Allergy Research & Education) enhances the lives of individuals with food allergies empowering them to lead safe, productive lives with the respect of others through education and advocacy initiatives and improved awareness around healthcare options and treatment. FARE’s mission is to improve the quality of life and health of those with food allergies through transformative research, education, and advocacy.
