Food beta
Allergens
Draft for testing. Awaiting review by an allergist; not medical advice.
Introduce one at a time
From around 6 months, introduce foods that can cause allergy separately, in small amounts. This makes a reaction easier to connect to a food. Ask your doctor first if she has eczema, an existing allergy or a family history of allergies.
Prepare it for her stage
Use finely ground nuts or nut butter mixed into food or spread thinly. Never offer whole nuts or a spoonful of nut butter. Cook fish and shellfish thoroughly, and remove bones.
Keep tolerated foods in meals
Once introduced and tolerated, include them in her usual diet. A tick in Gaia records what you told us; it cannot confirm tolerance or rule out allergy.
Write down what happened
Record the suspected food, symptoms and how soon they started. Symptoms can appear quickly or be delayed. Share the record with her doctor; do not use Gaia to diagnose an allergy or try a suspected food again.
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The suspected food
Record what she ate.
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What happened
Write down the symptoms.
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When it started
Record how soon symptoms started.
Share the record with her doctor. Gaia cannot diagnose an allergy. For a severe reaction, get emergency help; logging can wait.
Get help for a severe reaction
Trouble breathing, a swollen tongue or throat, or becoming pale and floppy need emergency help. Call your local emergency number now and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Logging can wait.
Make an avoidance plan with her doctor
Do not remove a major food group without advice. Her doctor or dietitian can help with safe alternatives and a written plan. Check ingredient labels and tell every caregiver what to avoid.
Sources
- NHS: food allergies in babies
- NHS: preparing food safely
- ASCIA: anaphylaxis action plans
- ASCIA: signs of allergic reactions
Draft for testing. Awaiting review by an allergist; not medical advice.