That You Can Share With Your Friends!

At Mission MightyMe we’re all about education and arming you with the knowledge that you need to feel confident and safe when introducing allergens for the first time and also keeping them in the diet regularly. We know sometimes your biggest support system is other moms and dads, because let’s face it, they just get it. 

We’ve put together 10 helpful tips around introducing common food allergens that you can use yourself and share with your friends who may be in the same life-stage!

First, talk to your pediatrician before starting allergenic foods.   If your baby is cleared for allergen introduction and has already started solid foods, here are DO’s and DONT’s on how to do it safely.

DO:

1. Start with other solids first
   
   Introduce peanut butter to baby and other commonly allergenic foods after your little one has successfully tried other solid foods like cereals, veggies or meat purees.

1. Start early in the day
   
   Start well before nap time, when you can monitor your baby for a couple of hours after feeding.

1. Smart small
   
   Start with a small amount of the allergen and monitor your baby. You can even try just putting a tiny amount on the lip initially. Most reactions will occur within 2 minutes to 2 hours. If no reactions occur, work up to a full infant-size serving of the allergen.
   
   
2. Keep it diverse
   
   Diet diversity is important for proper nutrition and development. Feed a variety of foods from all food groups, including common good allergens and iron-rich foods like fortified cereal, green veggies and meats.
   
   
3. Continue breastfeeding
   
   If possible, while you introduce solid foods to your baby.
   
   DON’T:
   
   
4. Don’t begin when baby is sick or fussy
   
   You don’t want to mistake illness for a food allergy reaction.
   
   
5. Don’t introduce multiple allergens at once
   
   This way if there is any sign of reaction you will know which food caused it.
   
   
6. Don’t use whole nuts or nut butters
   
   These are choking risks to babies and toddlers, as are many commonly allergenic foods in their natural form. Prepare soft foods that are easily dissolved with saliva.
   
   
7. Don’t start/stop
   
   Once allergens are introduced, it’s important to keep them in the diet regularly. The AAP recommends 6g of peanut protein per week for high-risk infants* (that’s 1 pouch of Mission MightyMe Organic Peanut Butter Puffs).
   
   
8. Don’t put food in a bottle
   
   The AAP and CDC do not recommend putting rice cereal or any other food in a bottle.
   
   
   For more information download our full Early Allergen Introduction Guide HERE!