Starting your six-month-old on solids is an exciting journey. Seeing their reactions to different textures and tastes, finding out what they do and don’t like – this is what parenting is all about. But the last thing any parent wants to do is make their baby sick.
Eggs are considered to be a food that can be a common trigger of allergic reactions in babies. There are a few foods that are considered a higher risk, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t offer them to your baby.
When should I give my baby egg?
The original guidelines used to recommend holding off on offering eggs until around baby’s first birthday. This is no longer the case. The latest research suggests that delaying offering foods like eggs can actually increase the risk of developing an allergic reaction. Most paediatricians now advise that if your baby is old enough to eat solids, they are old enough to eat eggs.
If you or your partner have an egg allergy, or your baby suffers from severe eczema it is worth discussing introducing eggs with your health provider first.
How should I feed eggs to my baby?
However you want to! Some people prefer to offer just the yolk initially, as it tends to be the white that is more likely to cause a reaction, but that is entirely up to you. It also depends where your baby is at in their solids journey.
If you’re adopting a spoon-fed approach you could try a scramble, or mix an egg through their oatmeal or vegetables. If you’re going for more of a baby-led weaning style of feeding, you could hard boil an egg and cut it into small pieces, or offer omelette strips.
The main thing to remember is, as when introducing most new foods, it’s always a good idea to only introduce one new foof at a time. This way, if bub does have any kind of reaction, it’s easy for you to figure out what’s causing the problem.
What are the signs of an allergic reaction?
Reactions are dependent upon the level of your child’s sensitivity. If it’s only quite mild, they may just get a little rash, or feel unwell. A more severe reaction would likely include swelling and respiratory distress like wheezing or difficulty breathing. If bub is showing any signs of a severe reaction, call an ambulance straight away.
My baby has an egg allergy, now what?
If you’re concerned that your baby has had an allergic reaction to eggs in the past, have a chat with your doctor or paediatrician. If bub’s reaction was only mild, they will likely recommend you try introducing a small amount of egg into their diet again in a month or so to see if their immune system has developed sufficiently to cope.
The good news is many children generally outgrow egg sensitivities and allergies by around five years old. You can probably look forward to your baby having an egg-cellent relationship with eggs when they’re a little bit older.
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