https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Thu, 04 Jun 2026 11:43:54 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832134 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:39:38 +0000 periwinklebee 2832134@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: These are awesome tips!</p> <p>LO has fairly severe eczema - even after working out a treatment plan with a pediatric derm - which is also a red flag that food allergies may be at play. But on just bm I can't figure out what could be causing it (eliminating dairy didn't help). So I feel like between this and my allergies, we'll likely have a reaction to something.... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832132 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:36:41 +0000 Sams Mom 2832132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: Finally someone else with a crazy amount of husband allergies to slowly work in! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832130 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:31:06 +0000 DesertDreams88 2832130@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DH has lots of food allergies, so this was our method for introducing anything that he has an allergy to:<br /> - Rub some on the foot or hand first so you can see if there will be a skin reaction. If so, obvi don't proceed with feeding until you check with the dr.<br /> - Have a pre-measured dose of Benadryl ready.<br /> - Only try allergenic foods on a day where 2 adults are home.<br /> - Do it in the morning to monitor reaction all day long.<br /> - If possible, do it on a weekday, so that if it's a mild reaction you can go to the doctor instead of the emergency room. </p> <p>DH is allergic to melons, bananas, all nuts, lettuce, and mushrooms... sooooo...... we are maybe more cautious than most! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832127 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:26:39 +0000 DesertDreams88 2832127@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: Peanut butter + oatmeal is definitely an option but it never worked well for us.... the peanut butter is really, really thick, and very difficult for the babies to swallow. LO1 always rejected it and kind of gagged. You have to microwave it and only use a very little bit.... whereas Bamba helps them practice the pincer grasp and it kind of melts away in their mouth. There are only 4 ingredients" peanuts, corn, oil, salt. The nutritional facts are pretty good, too: </p> [attach=5393/18/pbawgf.390x390.1306308_bamba.jpg] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832109 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 12:14:53 +0000 periwinklebee 2832109@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Sams Mom: Thank you - this is good to hear! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832055 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 10:05:16 +0000 Sams Mom 2832055@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: FWIW, our pediatrician told us to introduce my husbands allergens as soon as possible. For his major ones I had to do it at my parents house when my husband was working because any contact with shellfish gets him. But everything went well with shellfish and all of his other minor ones. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832051 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 09:55:41 +0000 periwinklebee 2832051@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: Thank you, this is really helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832032 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 09:27:15 +0000 MaryM 2832032@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@DesertDreams88: The pediatrician suggested stirring a little peanut butter into oatmeal (once we get him used to plain oatmeal first) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832021 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 09:02:28 +0000 MaryM 2832021@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@periwinklebee: I've also mostly heard that introducing early (between 4 and 6 months) is best. </p> <p>Our pediatrician said at our 4 month check up that because DS has excellent head control (which is impressive given the size of it!) he was cleared to start on solids. And she also suggested introducing allergens early as long as no one else in the family had allergies. You might want to ask your doctor what they recommend if you know there's a family history. (They weren't as concerned with Celiac since it's not usually a life threatening reaction.)</p> <p>I never showed any signs that seemed to link to a gluten intolerance until I gave it up entirely. Then my eczema got worse before it got better, and I'm a wreck for days when I'm glutened. But once I gave it up my GERD got better and I had fewer gallbladder attacks for a while (until I didn't and I had it removed) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832019 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 08:57:54 +0000 periwinklebee 2832019@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumuckl: @MaryM: This is really interesting... If I eat too much wheat I get stomach aches and sometimes skin issues, so I just don't but was never tested. I did 23andme maybe 5 or 6 years ago and they keep adding new reports. One recently said I have a genetic predisposition for celiac so it makes me wonder... this post makes me think I should do something like @Pumuckl: did as well. I also have some other allergies - to shellfish in particular - but those are so severe I really can't have them in my house. Maybe LO can become accustomed to that at grandma's :silly: </p> <p>I also got really confused because some stuff I read said introduce potential allergens between 4-6 months, whereas other sites said introducing solids before 6 months increases allergies. But it seems from reading this thread like the best evidence is for early introduction. A bit late since lo is nearly 6 months and hasn't had solids yet, but definitely pushes me towards introduction sooner rather than later... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2832014 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 08:48:31 +0000 DesertDreams88 2832014@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just secondin the above recommendation of Bamba for nuts. I'd also do a little almond and/or cashew milk maybe to try easy exposure to other nuts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831989 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 07:04:31 +0000 MaryM 2831989@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pumuckl: That's for this info! </p> <p>LO is 4 months two weeks now. Using increasing amounts of cereal sounds like a good way to go. Since we've already started him on regular oatmeal, maybe I'll mix some of the wheat kind in there. That sounds doable! </p> <p>My brother has 10 kids and it was in his family that we first found the Celiacs. My niece was having stomach issues and they finally tested her. They tested half the kids to see if they might have it, and for a while none seemed likely. Then one of the younger kids was losing weight (and hair!) and she tested positive too. </p> <p>My brother carries the gene and my genetic test was inconclusive because my immunoglobulin was too low for the ratio to read right. So I've assumed I have it. I gave up gluten, and it's VERY obvious when I accidentally have some. My brother and I have had stomach issues our whole lives, so it's pretty annoying we didn't figure this out until well into adulthood! In college I was told I probably just had gas. oy. </p> <p>But my husband's "biggest fear" is that his son will never eat a regular hamburger. hah! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831988 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 06:57:45 +0000 erinbaderin 2831988@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Toast, cut up into thin strips! That’s one of the first things we fed my second (we didn’t do BLW with our older baby). Or breadsticks were also a big hit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831986 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 06:54:11 +0000 ElbieKay 2831986@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Just give your baby bread. We introduced solids when my son was 5mo. He loved it, and one of the earlier foods we gave him was bread. He would hold a whole slice and gum his way through it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831976 Tue, 03 Jul 2018 05:46:19 +0000 Pumuckl 2831976@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: So this is me to the T. I have celiac and we had my two oldest tested whether they had the genetic components to develop celiac as well. Both of them did, we never got around to testing the twins. But with all four we introduced gluten early. </p> <p>Luckily my parents are friends with one of the world's best celiac reseachers so I got a lot of good infos. She said current research indicated that starting gluten gradually with minimal amounts and then slowly (as in about monthly) increasing the amount of gluten. I acutally just used wheat flour with my first. With the other three I used a baby oatmeal that contained gluten. I used a spoon to measure it, so I would mix one small table spoon of plain wheat flour/oatmeal (it was labeled as 6+ months) at 16 weeks and mix it with breast milk and then feed it to LO. By 20 weeks I increased to 2 tablespoons. Then at 24 weeks I went to 4 table spoons and so forth until they had a normal sized portion of (gluten containing) baby oatmeal at around 10 months. Then I gave them unlimited gluten. Their diet was otherwise glutenfree up until that point. Mine were late to showing signs that they were ready for solids so I didn't introduce any other solids until 7 months. </p> <p>So far all four seem to be doing fine on gluten (the twins are 17m, LO2 is 3.5 and LO1 5). Let me know if you have questions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831971 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 23:50:31 +0000 Foodnerd81 2831971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: Ohhhh that’s makes so much more sense </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831969 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 23:32:21 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2831969@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Foodnerd81: nope! Just like Macintosh said! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831966 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 22:34:31 +0000 macintosh 2831966@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My ped actually recommended Bamba peanut snacks at for introducing peanuts. I’d never heard of them at the time but Trader Joe’s has them now. </p> <p>@Mrs.Someone and @Foodnerd81: they are like peanut covered cheese puffs! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831964 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 21:57:14 +0000 Foodnerd81 2831964@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs.Someone: I’m thinking you mean Cheerios, not Cheetos as a first baby first :silly: </p> <p>We just did lightly toasted bread cut into sticks, but we did mostly baby led weaning. Or well cooked pasta, like rotini are a bit easier to pick up. But I didn’t start until 6 months really. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831892 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 15:57:55 +0000 Mrs.Someone 2831892@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Honestly, I’d just give baby a piece of soft bread! Also, find some peanut butter Cheetos, there are a few brands that make them now. Perfect for introducing peanuts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831875 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 15:10:19 +0000 mdf106 2831875@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: I just used regular cream of wheat cereal, not one especially for babies. It has instructions for preparing for a baby on the container. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831859 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 14:25:29 +0000 SweetiePie 2831859@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@MaryM: maybe a multigrain option would also have wheat? I know they make a lot of those these days.</p> <p>ETA: can’t believe our babes are old enough for solids 😍😭 I just told my husband we have to get the highchair out of storage this week!<br /> I’m not desperate to start solids like I was with my first, but I’m getting more and more excited as I look back at the pics and videos of my first trying solids. Such a fun time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831857 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 14:17:54 +0000 MaryM 2831857@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks @Rocker2014: and @SweetiePie: </p> <p>The oatmeal I picked up to try out first was labeled as gluten free, and I didn't see wheat options. It seemed they were trying to keep wheat out, but I guess I just need to look harder! </p> <p>Doesn't help that Target keeps the cereals on the top shelf and I'm super short... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831854 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 14:02:39 +0000 SweetiePie 2831854@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I also was going to suggest a cereal of some sort. Here’s a wheat option:</p> <p><a href="https://www.gerber.com/products/product/gerber-single-grain-cereal-whole-wheat" rel="nofollow">https://www.gerber.com/products/product/gerber-single-grain-cereal-whole-wheat</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831835 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 11:53:17 +0000 Rocker2014 2831835@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have celiac too - I mixed a little fruit puree that I already knew she liked and tolerated well with the Beech Nut organic oatmeal baby cereal. I think we used either bananas or applesauce - it became one of her favorite meals! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831832 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 11:49:13 +0000 MaryM 2831832@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: I've seen those...but holy expensive! (also...shrimp and banana? hurk) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831823 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 11:28:44 +0000 Sams Mom 2831823@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@LBee: I totally forgot about those! They came out with these after my son was eating everything basically, but want to use them with baby #2. My husband is an allergy from living in a bubble so we went the course of introducing early on everything we could. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831820 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 11:24:54 +0000 LBee 2831820@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I’ve heard good things about these pouches (below). They have a wheat option. I would think early and consistent introduction to a potential allergen is sound based on my knowledge of allergies and oral immunotherapy. </p> <p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0757121YC/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&#038;psc=1" rel="nofollow">https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0757121YC/ref=sspa_mw_detail_0?ie=UTF8&#038;psc=1</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831814 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 11:16:56 +0000 Sams Mom 2831814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Cream of Wheat cereal is the only thing I can think of aside from toast maybe? I kind of did baby led weaning starting around 4 months, and I want to say he ate toast a little before 6 months. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/introducing-allergens-how#post-2831812 Mon, 02 Jul 2018 11:12:06 +0000 MaryM 2831812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've been reading up, and current research suggests to introduce allergens between 4 and 6 months. </p> <p>For most foods that seems easy enough, but how do you handle that with gluten? It's not like there's bread baby food... </p> <p>I'm particularly interested since there's a genetic component for celiac and they're saying introducing wheat early (between 4 and 6 months) may have a link to being able to tolerate it. Because I have celiac, he's had no exposure through pregnancy or breast feeding. </p>