Will my baby have the same allergies as me?

7th December 2023

Will my baby have the same allergies as me?

Navigating life with allergies, from meticulous label-reading to pre-checking restaurant menus, becomes a well-honed skill. As an expectant mother, the question naturally arises: “Will my baby have the same allergies as me?” It’s a common concern among moms-to-be, which can feel worrying. 

We wanted to give you some peace of mind that it doesn’t have to feel that way. 

The reality is that allergies can have the potential families. If you’ve been careful to avoid certain things to stay allergy-free, you might be wondering if your little one will face the same challenges.

The honest answer is perhaps…but there’s no real hard or fast rule to say they will either way. It depends on two major factors.

Nature

Understanding allergies and how they’re passed down is like a family recipe. Your genes are the ingredients, and yes, they play a part. If one parent has allergies, there’s a higher chance your baby child might, too, and it’s even higher if both you and your partner have them. But it’s not a guarantee. While genes play a significant role, they’re not the only influence factor as to whether or not your baby will have allergies. 

Nurture

The environment your baby grows up in matters, too. Exposure to allergens can either build up protection, making allergies less severe or delayed or rendering them more sensitive later on. It’s a delicate dance between genetics and surroundings.

What does this mean for you as a parent? 

For parents, it’s a balancing act. While you can’t predict allergies, taking a test to identify potential triggers can provide peace of mind. Raising your child while being mindful of signs of allergies, especially in the early years, is a proactive approach. If allergies do emerge, it’s not anyone’s fault; it’s the result of the intricate interplay between nature and nurture.

Signs your baby might have an allergy 

Any child can develop allergies at any time, whether you or your partner have them or not. Sometimes, they’re just fleeting as your little one is growing. Cows’ milk, for example, is something a high percentage of infants are allergic to. Over 90% of children will become tolerant of milk by age 6.

The best you can do to manage symptoms is first to be aware of them:

• hives or rashes
• itching
• wheezing or shortness of breath
• red, itchy, and/or watery eyes
• coughing and/or wheezing
• runny nose
• sneezing

If you notice these symptoms, it’s time to take action. By taking a test, you can figure out precisely what might be causing the issues, and with guidance, you’ll have an action plan to help you manage the symptoms. Armed with this info, you can create a home that’s comfy and safe for your little one.

As you step into this journey of parenthood, know that you and your child, with a bit of help from our in-house paediatrician, will figure it out together. Many parents fear the process of diagnosis and worry about what comes next. 

Your concerns about your baby’s health are entirely valid, but facing allergies with infants isn’t as daunting as it seems. At our London-based allergy and immunology centre, we understand that the well-being of your baby is your top priority. Our experienced paediatrician is here to provide compassionate support and guidance. If you suspect your baby has a cow’s milk allergy or if you’re unsure about the symptoms you’re witnessing, register as a new patient today and let’s start the process of helping your baby feel better.

Does my baby have an allergy to cow’s milk?

6th November 2023

Does my baby have an allergy to cow milk?

Parenthood is a journey filled with wonder and joy, but it also comes with its fair share of concerns and challenges. “What does that cry mean?” “Am I doing it right?” “What’s that rash?” These are just some of the many questions you may have already antagonised over as a new parent. “Does my baby have an allergy to cow milk?” is up there too. 

Having an allergy to cow’s milk is common in babies.  Especially when they’re bottle-fed. In the first year of life between 1.8% and 7.5% of infants are reactive to the protein. The good news is, it’s not always an issue for life. By age 3, more than 75% of children will have outgrown their milk allergy, and over 90% of children will become tolerant of milk by age 6.

Recognising the symptoms

Most allergies or intolerances will show up similarly. If you notice signs of colic (excessive crying when you can’t for the life of you figure out why), vomiting, diarrhoea, eczema, and extreme fussiness, it could be a sign that something is causing your baby discomfort. It can often take time for these symptoms to appear and they gradually worsen.

Test for the issue

Once you spot that there is an issue, the next best step is to test to understand the cause of the issue. It could be an allergy to cow’s milk, or it could be something else. Once you are able to identify the cause of the issue, you can take steps to help your baby feel better. 

What the future looks like when your baby has a cow milk allergy 

Many parents fear the process of diagnosis and worry about what comes next. Your concerns about your baby’s health and potential cow’s milk allergy are entirely valid but management isn’t as daunting as it seems. Managing a cow’s milk allergy in an infant often involves a change to their diet. Rather than relying solely on online sources or self-diagnosis, it’s better to get expert advice so that you can better plan what’s next. A qualified paediatrician will guide you on suitable formula options, breastfeeding techniques, and the introduction of solid foods that are free from cow’s milk that give your baby a better quality of life. 

At our London-based allergy and immunology centre, we understand that the well-being of your baby is your top priority. Our experienced paediatrician is here to provide compassionate support and guidance. If you suspect your baby has a cow’s milk allergy or if you’re unsure about the symptoms you’re witnessing, register as a new patient today and let’s start the process of helping your baby feel better.

Everything new parents need to know about allergies in babies

2nd February 2022

Everything new parents need to know about allergies in babies

Being a new parent is sure to bring about a million new questions. You suddenly have a baby to look after and figuring everything out is, frankly, overwhelming. And one area that many parents worry about is allergies – especially food ones.

Around 5% of children under the age of 5 have a food allergy. So the odds of your child having one isn’t out of the question. But what do you do? How do you even know? We know you’ll have burning questions just like these, so let’s jump into an FAQ about allergies in babies.

What causes food allergies in babies?

No one really knows why our bodies suddenly decide to be allergic to something. This means it’s hard to really explain what causes them. What we do know is that babies usually have to be exposed to the food first. For example, they might eat it once and be okay, but react the second time.

NHS advice is to introduce potentially allergen-risky food solely and in small amounts. This allows you to see if there’s any reaction without harming them.

What are the most common food allergies?

There are about nine common categories of food allergies. These are the most common ones you’ll come across:

• Milk
• Eggs
• Wheat (or other foods with gluten)
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts
• Sesame (and other seeds)
• Soy
• Fish
• Shellfish

How can you tell if a baby has a food allergy?

There are some common symptoms you might want to look out for. Food allergies usually happen within a few minutes of ingesting them. Some telltale signs include:

• Sneezing
• Itchy, watery eyes
• Coughing or trouble breathing
• Red rashes
• Worsening of asthma or eczema symptoms
• Anaphylaxis

You can tell when an anaphylactic shock occurs because the baby will have trouble breathing, may lose consciousness, and have a weakened pulse. This is a less likely symptom, but one that can be fatal.

What to do if they’re allergic?

The best advice is talk to your GP/your baby’s doctor and see what they recommend. They might go the route of a specific diet or advise you to stay away from certain foods. They should also be able to help you adjust to these new restrictions.

How do you keep your baby safe?

Follow any advice given to you by your baby’s doctor. At home, you’ll want to remove any food that contains something they’re allergic to. Check ingredients thoroughly as many of them can be in food without you realising.

We have plenty of blogs you can read as well. These will give you some more advice on how to adapt your lifestyle. We have some tips on what you can do, four facts worth knowing, and some advice worth having.

Other than that, maybe consider finding an allergy specialist to help. They’ll be specifically tuned into how best to handle any lifestyle changes. And they’ll more keenly understand your concerns and the appropriate treatment.

If you need an allergy specialist, whether it be for you or your child, get in touch with us. Our experts are always happy to help a parent in need. Register as a new patient here or call us on 02031 433 449.

Can you prevent allergies in your newborn baby?

22nd July 2020

Can you prevent allergies in your newborn baby?

Being the parent of a newborn baby can be a stressful time. Wrapped up in that bundle of joy is the worry about their health. One thing in particular that has gripped parents is the fear of a deadly food allergy or anything else they might be allergic to.

And it’s no surprise; it’s believed that 1 in 4 people in the UK have an allergy at some point in their lives. This is part of a wider trend of more and more people being diagnosed with allergies. It’s estimated that food allergy cases have risen by 50% in the past decade. But is there any way to prevent allergies in your newborn baby?

The mother’s diet

Some advice that you might see thrown about is to restrict what you eat while you’re pregnant. You would stop eating food that your child could be allergic to, such as peanuts, eggs, or dairy. This advice is false. There is no strong evidence that restricting what you eat will help your baby avoid allergies. This goes for after the birth when you’re breastfeeding – eat away!

Breastfeeding

Speaking of which, you should breastfeed your baby if you can, for at least the first six or so months, if not well beyond that. It isn’t likely to cause an allergic reaction in your infant and has great benefits to their immune system. It also has benefits for the mother and is a great way to build a strong bond with your new child. As for how it affects allergies, it’s not big enough to cause concern; you can’t pass your allergy down through the milk.

Introducing new foods

The right time to introduce solid foods to your child is at about six months old. If they can support their head, they should be fine with new foods. They shouldn’t be completely solid; try mushed-up food, pastes, or other popular baby food. Some say you shouldn’t introduce likely allergy triggers such as peanuts, eggs, or dairy, but research actually shows the opposite.

It recommends giving them to your child when they’re used to more solid food, trying one at a time. Delaying feeding them to your baby might actually increase the likelihood of them developing an allergy.

Asthma

It’s not a food allergy but is a common ailment in children, affecting 1 in 11 kids. To give your child the best chances of avoiding it, you should keep asthma triggers away from them if you can. This might mean taking the carpet out of their bedroom and using wooden or wood-effect floors to remove dust mites. Regularly wash their bedding and pillows (at least once a week). And this one goes without saying – don’t smoke around them.

If you’re scared about your child’s health, don’t be. By being sensible, you can make sure your baby has a normal life. If you ever have any allergy concerns, get in touch with your doctor for their expert advice. Just give your child the best life and if they do ever develop allergies, you can follow the advice in some of our other blogs.

Your child can still live a normal life with an allergy. If you want to talk to an allergy specialist, reach out to us on 02031 433 449.

Frequently Asked Questions: Allergies in babies

14th August 2019

Frequently Asked Questions: Allergies in babies

Allergies are extremely common worldwide, with figures rising consistently over the past fifty years. As adults, we can tell when something’s not right and get the help we need, but babies can’t do this. Rates of sensitivity in children are approaching around 40% worldwide. 

Babies can’t tell you how they’re feeling. So it’s important you’re aware of all potential allergens and note any changes to your baby.

Could my baby have hay fever?

While you can get hay fever at any age, the likelihood of developing it so young is slim. It tends to begin in childhood or in the teenage years.They haven’t lived long enough to come into contact with pollen year after year, so it’s hard to gauge whether or not it’s hay fever. After all, the symptoms are similar to a cold.

Is it a cold or an allergy?

Allergy symptoms can be similar to a common cold, making them difficult to identify. If your baby has cold-like symptoms, it’s important to pay attention to their duration and what is or isn’t accompanying them.

A common cold will stick around for two weeks or so, whereas allergy symptoms will likely last a bit longer. A fever doesn’t accompany an allergic reaction, so if your baby has one you’ll know it’s a cold. If you suspect they’re experiencing aches and pains, it’ll also be a cold rather than an allergic reaction.

Can I prevent my child from developing a food allergy?

It’s easy to assume that you should avoid feeding your baby common allergens. But, believe it or not, doing this can actually increase your baby’s chance of developing an allergy. 

A 2015 study found that early introduction of peanuts decreased the prevalence of peanut allergies amongst children. Research suggests that – even with children who are at high risk for allergies – you should introduce common allergy-producing foods to your child between 6 and 12 months.

However, it’s not enough to give them peanut paste once and then never again; this is even more likely to encourage an intolerance. Try and give your child these foods regularly. When introducing top allergy-producing foods to your child, always be extra cautious of any changes or symptoms. Find more information here.

It can be difficult to identify allergies in babies because they’re unable to express how they’re feeling. It’s important you keep a note of any contact with potential allergens and watch your baby closely. If you come across anything that looks like cause for concern, go to your doctor, even if it seems minor.

If you want more guidance on allergies in babies, or want to book an allergy test for yourself or your little one, give us a call on 02031 433 499.

Dummies and allergies: what’s the link?

3rd December 2018

Dummies and allergies: what’s the link?

As a parent, you’re probably already keenly aware of germs and dirt coming into contact with your child. In our clean-conscious culture, we want to ensure our children don’t contract anything potentially harmful.

Picture the scenario: your little angel is in a devilish mood. After the toys and the drink the,y resort to throwing their dummy on the floor. You go to pick it up, and you do one of two things. You clean it under the tap or with a wipe, or you stick it in your mouth.

If that second option sounds wrong or unhealthy, you might want to think again. Some studies suggest that this might be one way to reduce the risk of allergies later in your child’s life.

Research

A study of 128 women recorded preferred methods of cleaning dummies. Allergist Dr Eliane Abou-Jaoude, MD, ACAAI member, was a lead author on the study conducted by Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. Only 12% of those mums reportedly cleaned it with their own mouths. Interestingly, the study found that these children had lower levels of IgE.

IgE is an antibody in the body that is responsible for allergic responses. Higher IgE means that your child is more likely to develop allergies and conditions such as asthma. Of the 41% who sterilised the dummies and the 72% who used soap and water to clean them, it was found to have a negligible effect on the IgE levels in their children.

How does it work?

One explanation for this is that by not thoroughly cleaning the dummy, microorganisms that help with the development of the immune system remain, which in turns helps to protect against allergies later in life.

However, we recommend taking this study with a pinch of salt as far more research is required. You should still clean any dummies thoroughly if it has come into contact with bacteria or dirt. There are no adverse effects if you do, whereas the same can’t necessarily be said for cleaning it in your own mouth.

Allergies are a serious health problem, and whether or not we are one day able to lower IgE levels, allergy tests are critical. Food allergies alone affect 3-6% of children in the UK.

We highly recommend allergy tests as early on as possible to avoid symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, and swelling of the mouth. In serious cases, there is also a risk of anaphylaxis. It’s critical to have your child tested for allergies if yourself or other family members have allergies or a condition such as eczema or asthma as this is a sign that your child is more likely to have it too.

At the London Allergy & Immunology Centre, we can help to identify allergy triggers your child might suffer from. Contact us today to find out how we can help you and your child. If you want to read more about the study mentioned in this blog, please click here.