Introducing common food allergens to your baby

Choose an appropriate time

HealthLink BC recommends introducing common allergens when a baby has shown readiness for solid foods and not before four months. If your baby has eczema, an existing allergy, or a strong family history of allergy, speak with their health care provider before starting.

Introduce one common allergen at a time

After your baby has tried a few other solid foods, offer one common allergen in a safe, age-appropriate texture. Start with a small taste, watch your baby, and offer more if there are no signs of a reaction.

Common allergens include peanut, tree nuts, egg, milk products, wheat, soy, sesame, fish, and shellfish. Whole nuts and thick spoonfuls of nut butter are choking hazards and should not be offered to babies.

Keep tolerated foods in the routine

Once a common allergen has been introduced without a reaction, current guidance recommends continuing to offer it regularly. Follow the preparation and frequency advice given by your baby's health care provider when their needs are more complex.

Record every exposure separately

• The exact food and how it was prepared
• The date and time it was offered
• How much was served and approximately how much was eaten
• Any symptoms and when they began
• A separate exposure for each serving, even when the same food is offered twice in one day