7 Tips for Raising a Child With Food Allergies

Food allergies in children are common. Between 4-8% of children have them. Cow milk, peanuts, tree nuts, soy, eggs, wheat, fish, and shellfish are the most common foods.

Food allergies in children aren’t usually preventable. However, they can be managed with strategies like strictly avoiding the food your child is allergic to,, knowing when to treat allergies with medication, managing allergies in school and childcare environments, and managing the stress of parenting a child with food allergies.

The first step in managing a food allergy is getting the correct diagnosis. Getting a clear and early diagnosis of a food allergy in your child is the best way to ensure it’s treated effectively.

Your child’s pediatrician may be able to diagnose food allergies, but you may need to visit an allergist (a doctor who specializes in allergies).

Diagnosis usually involves:

• A discussion about your child’s symptoms
• An elimination diet, which is temporarily restricting certain foods to identify the allergen
• Diagnostic tests, such as skin prick tests and blood tests

After a diagnosis, the provider will give you an action plan for managing your child’s food allergy.

When your child has a food allergy, a key part of their treatment plan will involve using certain medical devices and medications.

The most important one is an EpiPen, an injectable medicine that contains epinephrine, a hormone that helps temporarily manage severe allergy symptoms, such as anaphylaxis. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that may cause trouble breathing and swallowing.

If your child has severe food allergies, they’ll need to have access to their EpiPen at all times, and anyone who cares for them will have to know how to use it.

Your healthcare provider may also ask you to keep antihistamines, oral (taken by mouth) allergy medicines that reduce mild symptoms. Antihistamines aren’t emergency medications like EpiPens. Your healthcare provider will explain when to use an antihistamine versus an EpiPen.

The main way to prevent food allergy reactions is to avoid the food your child is allergic to. This can be challenging because small amounts of one food can be mixed into another food. Learning how to avoid a food completely can be tricky.

Here are some tips:

• Read food labels very carefully, and seek guidance from your provider or the food manufacturer if you’re unsure what the label means
• Be careful not to mix food your child is allergic to with other foods they eat when preparing food for them
• Thoroughly clean all dishes and food preparation/serving equipment when making food your child is allergic to
• Read restaurant menus carefully, discuss your child’s allergies with the restaurant before, and check in with the wait staff to make sure they understand your child’s restrictions

In some settings, you may have less control over your child’s exposure to their food allergies. This is why it’s important to have a discussion with all of your child’s caretakers and teachers about their food allergy.

Here are some tips:

• Consider having your child wear an identifier, such as a medical alert bracelet, that can let others know if your child has a severe food allergy
• Teach your child’s caregivers and teachers how to read labels and serve food safely
• Make sure all staff members at your child’s school know the potential effects of your child’s allergen—for example, let them know if even a tiny amount of the food your child is allergic to can trigger a severe reaction
• Ask about the school’s plan for avoiding exposure to the food your child is allergic to, including allergy-safe tables or spaces
• Consider providing alternative foods for your child
• Review your child’s medication plan with school staff
• Make sure caregivers understand the signs of an allergic reaction and when emergency medical care is necessary

Although you don’t want to scare your child, you want to have a simple discussion with them about their allergies as soon as they’re old enough to understand.

You can teach your child about their allergies and how to manage them if you:

• Make sure they know what foods they are allergic to and how even a small amount might make them sick
• Teach them how to read food labels when they’re old enough to understand them and avoid foods containing the food they are allergic to
• Teach them about preventative steps, such as hand washing before eating, and discuss their allergy needs with others

It can be stressful to grow up with food allergies. However, you can support your child emotionally if you:

• Let them know that their emotions about their food allergies are valid
• Boost their self-esteem by showing them how proud you are of them when they make safe choices regarding their food allergies
• Empower your child if they’re feeling anxious about their allergies by making sure they understand their food allergy safety plan and what to do in emergencies

Social situations can be challenging, especially when they involve food. However, your child should be able to participate in most social situations. You can prepare for these situations by carefully reviewing all foods served at the event, bringing safe foods when necessary, and always bringing your child’s EpiPen when out and about.

You can emphasize to your child that although they may have different needs than their peers, being different isn’t a bad thing. Each person is unique in their own way.

Children pick up on a parent’s stress, so it’s important to manage your stress. This may involve educating yourself about their allergies and having a solid management plan for every situation.

It also involves learning how to manage worry and anxiety. You might consider meditation, relaxation exercises, or therapy sessions with a mental health professional.

You may suspect your child has a food allergy because they show the following symptoms soon after eating certain foods:

• Rashes
• Hives
• Itching
• Stomachache
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

If you think your child might have a food allergy, you should contact their pediatrician rather than trying to diagnose it yourself.

If your child shows signs of a severe food allergy, seek immediate medical attention. Severe food allergy symptoms may include:

• Swelling of the throat
• Trouble breathing
• Lightheadedness
• Fainting

Food allergies affect millions of children. When your child has one, it can be extremely stressful. The more you know about managing your child’s food allergies, the better off you’ll both be. Contact their pediatrician or an allergist if you have further questions about your child’s food allergies.