What are common food allergy symptoms?

It’s not always easy to spot the symptoms of food allergies – even for doctors. That’s because the signs of food allergy can be mistaken for other common conditions seen in babies and infants.

The following may be clues to a food allergy, especially if accompanied by restless sleep or excessive crying:

• Eczema
• Diarrhoea
• Colic
• Constipation
• Wheezing
• Vomiting/Reflux

Sometimes the allergy in question can be to cows’ milk. Cows’ milk allergy (CMA) typically develops in the first year of life.

But it can take time to exclude other causes and know for sure whether your child has CMA. Of course, this is a difficult time not only for the child but for the parents too. So how do you know if cows’ milk is the problem?

1. Get the facts

Find out a little more about CMA – this website is a good place to start. It will give you confidence when talking to healthcare professionals and looking out for tell-tale signs.

2. Keep a diary

The more familiar you are with your child’s condition, the easier it will be for your doctor or a dietitian to know if CMA is the cause. A good way to do this is to keep a daily diary of your baby’s diet and symptoms. This can sometimes be difficult if reactions are very delayed but it is nevertheless a good place to start.

3. Don’t be afraid to trust your instincts

It’s natural to worry about your child but often mothers will have a ‘sixth sense’ when something is out of the ordinary. Nobody knows your baby as well as you do, so trust your parental instinct when deciding if further action is called for.