As your baby grows, the developmental and nutritional needs also grow. Babies start weaning and you have to give them more than just breast milk or formula milk. Once you know that your baby wants more and it’s time to start giving them new food, you have to make sure that particular new food will suit them and not have an allergic reaction.

More than 160 foods tend to cause allergies. According to the stats, 5% of young children and 4% of adults have food allergies. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified the top eight food allergies that are most likely to be found in kids. More than 90% of food allergies are found in kids.

The most common food allergies are usually found in:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (e.g., almonds, walnuts, pecans)
• Soybeans
• Wheat
• Fish
• Shellfish (e.g., crab, lobster, shrimp)

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Food allergies can cause serious or deadly reactions. It is very important that we must know how to recognize an allergic reaction and that is why before trying new foods on the kid you must follow the 4-day wait rule.

Signs & Symptoms of Food Allergy

With food allergy, the body reacts to a particular food in a harmful way. The body immune system stops fighting against the infection and diseases, thus causes the following symptoms:

• wheezing
• trouble breathing
• coughing
• hoarseness
• throat tightness
• belly pain
• vomiting
• diarrhea
• itchy, watery, or swollen eyes
• hives
• red spots
• swelling
• a drop in blood pressure, causing lightheadedness or loss of consciousness (passing out)

People usually confuse food allergies with food intolerance due to the same symptoms. The symptoms of food intolerance include indigestion, gas, burping, headaches and nervousness. Food intolerance:

• Doesn’t involve the immune system
• Happens if a person is unable to digest any substance
• Unpleasant but not dangerous 

If you notice that your baby has a food allergy then see your pediatrician. The doctor can identify which food is causing a problem to your little one and will help with a solution.