While breastfeeding may offer some protection against developing allergies, this doesn’t mean a breastfed infant cannot develop allergies. Parents should look for signs that may indicate their infant has an allergy, whether he is breastfed or not, and always talk to a doctor about any concerns.
Symptoms
Infants may display various allergy symptoms depending upon the specific allergen. Gastrointestinal symptoms may include spitting up, diarrhea, cramping, constipation, gas, poor weight gain and colitis. Possible respiratory symptoms include runny nose, sneezing, coughing, asthma, congestion, recurrent nosebleeds or unusual breathing. Hives, eczema, rashes, flushed cheeks, itching, excessive pallor, ear infections, hiccups, excessive sweating and excessive drooling also may occur. Many parents also begin to suspect their infant has allergies due to her behavior. Infants with allergies are often irritable, fussy, restless and may have problems with sleep.
Common Allergens
Breastfed infants may be allergic to just about anything, but some allergies are more common than others. Cow’s milk is a common food allergen in infants. Some mistakenly believe infants that are exclusively breastfed do not need to worry about this allergen, but if the breastfeeding mother ingests cow’s milk, the nursing baby may still experience an allergic reaction. Other food allergens include eggs, wheat, fish and shellfish, pork, tomatoes, peanuts, nuts, onions, berries, cabbage, spices, citrus fruits, juices and chocolate. Additives, flavorings, preservatives and colorings may also trigger an allergic reaction. Pollen, dust mites, mold, animal dander, insect bites and certain medications are other common allergens.
Considerations
Discovering which foods the baby is reacting to can be difficult. Keeping a written record of the food the mother eats, as well as food the baby eats if he is already eating solid foods, may help. This record should also include any reaction the baby has. Whenever the baby displays common allergy symptoms, parents should look for connections between the foods and the baby’s distress. Some allergic reactions appear within minutes of ingesting the food, but some may not appear for hours. If the breastfeeding mother believes a certain food may be causing the reaction, she should try eliminating the food from her diet and see if her baby’s symptoms disappear. This will not happen immediately, but most babies with food allergies show a reduction of symptoms after the mother removes the food from her diet for five to seven days, according to Le Leche League International.
Misconceptions
Some mothers decide to avoid foods that may be potential allergens, such as peanuts, cow’s milk or fish. However, this is usually unnecessary if there is not a family history of food allergies. Most mothers only need to avoid certain foods if their babies have previously displayed signs of an allergic reaction to food.
Treatments
Eliminating exposure to the allergen is typically the recommended course of action, but there are other treatments for breastfed infants with allergies. Medications, immunotherapy and other allergy treatments prove useful when the allergen can’t be avoided, such as pollen, dust or environmental allergens. Parents should always discuss treatment options with a doctor or allergist to determine the best course of action for their infant.
Warning
Most babies should receive vaccinations, even those with food allergies, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. The only exception is infants with an egg allergy. These babies should not receive the influenza vaccine or yellow fever vaccine, as these vaccinations may contain eggs.
