May 11-16 is
Food Allergy Awareness Week—so here’s your cheat sheet to childhood food allergies:
Big 8. Eight foods account for 90% of allergies: milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat. If your child is allergic,
symptoms arise quickly after eating. Take this
allergy-screening quiz to gauge your child’s risk.
Right Time. Introduce solid foods to your baby too early, and she is more likely to develop allergies. The same risk applies if you wait too long. The “just right” time: between 4 and 6 months old.
Not So Fast. If you have allergies, your child faces
greater risk. When there’s an allergy in the family, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends delaying these foods:
* Dairy products (until age 1)
* Eggs (until age 2)
* Peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish (until age 3)
Safe At School. If your child heads to school with an allergy,
pack a great lunch, and give the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Network’s
food allergy program to the school nurse. The lunchroom should be social—not scary!
