Does my baby have a food intolerance?

[Excerpt from Simply Baby: An invaluable quick reference to infants] Some infants can have sensitivity, intolerance, or an allergy to certain food(s). Anyone can have an intolerance or allergy to anything, however, the seven most common food intolerances (making up approximately 90% of all) are: dairy, wheat, soy, tree nuts, peanuts, shellfish, and egg whites. These are listed in the nutritional information section of food labels. The most common food intolerance for infants is dairy (or cow's milk protein) and most will outgrow by 5-18 months of age.

Diagnosing is sometimes difficult because:

1. Babies cry for other reasons
2. Food in mother's diet takes 4-8 hours to be transferred to breast milk
3. Food in mother's diet can linger in breast milk production for up to 2 weeks
4. Symptoms can show up minutes or hours after eating the food (or affected breast milk)

Common symptoms of food intolerance are:

• Crying or inconsolability 5 minutes to 2 hours after eating
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea (with or without mucus)
• Hives
• Blood in stools
• Difficulty breathing or wheezing
• Stomach cramping
• Swelling or itching (especially of lips, tongue, or mouth)
• Dry, scaly, or red skin patches

Some facts on food intolerance:

• Varies in severity
• Dose related (small portions may be acceptable)
• Symptoms can change with age
• Should not interfere with child's growth
• If allergic to a particular food, could also be allergic to other foods in that group
• Cow's milk intolerance can cause green stools

If food intolerance is suspected in breast fed infants, try:

• A maternal food record (with items eaten, time, and infant symptoms)
• Mother starts an elimination diet

Because proper nutrition is crucial to an infant's development, consult the pediatrician if food intolerance is suspected.