Parenting expert questions & answers

Food allergies in babies by Linda Shaw, MD, FAAP

As parents, we often have questions about all kinds of health issues relating to our kids - from illness to prevention to child development. Come ask the experts what you want to know about your child's health!

The question:
Is it safe to feed a one-year-old chocolate or peanut butter? Why are these foods to be avoided in the first year?

The Pediatrician Answers:
If you do not have a significant family history of allergy, then chocolate and peanut butter are probably not a problem for a 1 year old (as long as there is no choking hazard for the item containing the chocolate or peanut butter!)

The recommendation to avoid these foods in the first year is made because these items are highly allergenic in allergy-sensitive people.

Symptoms of a food allergy can be as simple as skin problems (itchiness, rashes or hives) or intestinal troubles (abdominal pain, diarrhea or vomiting), or as dangerous as swelling of the respiratory passages, shortness of breath, fainting or anaphylactic shock.

According to the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, the most common food allergens are:

• egg
• milk
• shellfish
• peanuts
• soy
• wheat

If your child experiences symptoms of a food allergy, avoid any further contact with that food item, rinse his or her mouth and see a doctor.

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About the author: Linda Shaw is a general pediatrician with over 20 years of experience with a practice in Altoona, Pennsylvania. She is currently am one of the AAP's breastfeeding coordinators and a member of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine. She also breastfed her four children, including twins. Dr Shaw enjoys teaching and explaining things to patients and their parents. Do you have a question about children's health? Click here to ask our experts!