Many families worry about introducing common allergy causing foods, especially if someone in the family has food allergy to one or more of those foods.
The first thing a family should decide is:
Are we prepared to introduce the food (that someone in the family is allergic to) to the baby and then continue to give this food if baby shows no signs of allergic reaction?
Once introduced it is important to keep the common allergy causing food in the infant’s diet if they are not allergic. It is not a matter of giving the food once or twice, it needs to be given regularly – about twice a week.
If you decide that you are prepared to introduce and continue to give the baby the allergenic food, here are a few tips to reduce risk to others in the family who have allergies:
General advice:
- Feed baby in highchair and clean chair thoroughly afterwards.
- Clean up as soon as possible after the baby has eaten.
- Use warm soapy water and paper towels or disposable wipes for cleaning up after allergenic food. If using a cloth, put it into the wash immediately after cleaning up.
- Clean utensils with a paper towel and rinse well under water before putting in the dishwasher. Foods like peanut butter can ”bake on” in the dishwasher if not rinsed properly.
- Some families choose to have separate utensils and plates.
- After baby has eaten food, use disposable wipes or face cloth to clean face and hands, then put face cloth into the wash. Some families use separate coloured face cloth for each family member.
- Wash hands well before preparing food, before and after eating, and after cleaning up.
- Store food in sealed containers that are labelled with what they are. Some families have a system using the name of the food and the name of the person who can eat it (or cannot eat it).
Parent is allergic:
- If the parent does not want to be near their food allergen, is there another parent or family member who can be responsible for giving the food to the infant about twice a week?
- Does the baby visit grandparents weekly who would be happy to do it?
- If parent with food allergy is comfortable feeding that allergen to their child, they may wish to wear gloves when preparing food and cleaning up food if allergic to it. This may reduce contact skin reactions such as itchiness or redness.
- If mother has food allergy and is breastfeeding, see our breastfeeding page.
Sibling is allergic:
- Is there a time where you can give the baby the food when the other child is out of the house? For example, while the child with food allergies is at childcare or school. If not, make sure the allergic child knows their sibling is being fed the food they are allergic to so they don’t touch the food or the baby until they have finished eating.
- Some families have house rules to reduce risk
- no sharing food or drinks
- young children are not allowed to help themselves to food
- always sit down to eat
- A colour coded plate or cup system, where the person with the food allergy only eats or drinks from a green plate or cup for example.
Work out a way that works for your family – where the person with food allergies feels safe, but baby can have the food that others are allergic to.