We received a message last week from a visitor who wanted to know more about introducing various foods from within one food group.
If she introduced her son to one type of fish, for example – and there was no allergic reaction or digestive issues – could all types of fish then be considered safe?
The answer is that it IS possible to be allergic to one type of fish and not another.
That means that you should follow the four day rule every time you introduce a new type of fish to your baby.
In other words, you should…
- Introduce each new fish one at a time
- Only serve it with foods your baby is ALREADY safely enjoying, to make it easy to identify fish as the cause of any subsequent allergic reaction/digestive problem
- Wait at least FOUR DAYS before introducing any other new foods.
The same can apply to other types of food ‘groups’.
For example, it is possible that your baby may not react to lemon juice (which you may have used in a recipe), yet he could go on to display a reaction to oranges – although both fall under the citrus umbrella. Please note, though, that it’s recommended to wait until your baby is at least 12 months of age before introducing citrus.
Similarly, different varieties of squash may affect your little one in different ways. Although allergic reactions to foods like butternut squash and pumpkin are not common, if you want to be absolutely safe – particularly if your baby is at a particular risk of food allergy – then it’s a good idea to treat every variety of squash as a ‘new food’ when you first introduce it.
Is YOUR baby able to eat some foods in a food ‘group’, but not others? Please do comment and share your experiences.
Baby Food Allergies and Digestive Problems – More Information
Remember: If you are concerned that your baby may be experiencing any type of allergic reaction or digestive problem, you should ALWAYS consult your doctor.