Kids’ Food Allergies Are On The Rise

Photo credit: Old Shoe Woman

The CDC recently reported a 18% rise in kids’ food allergies. 3 million American children, or four out of every 100 kids, suffer from food allergies. While this may sound alarming, experts say that the high numbers could simply be a result of higher awareness: “what was previously considered as general symptoms of a “sickly child”, is now diagnosed as a food allergy.

Another theory says that kids are more allergic these days because we raise them in an almost-sterile environment that doesn’t give their immune sustem a chance to develop properly.

Food allergies are also believed to be hereditary, so if you or your partner suffer from them, there’s a higher chance that your kids will suffer from them too.

One of the best ways to prevent food allergies in children is to breastfeed, and to delay introduction of solid food until at least 6 months of age. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breast-feeding of infants for at least the first 6 months of life. This is followed by the gradual introduction of solid foods from age 6-12 months, as well as continued breast-feeding for 12 months or longer.

When introducing solid foods, the most common causes of food allergies (cow’s milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish and shellfish)should be avoided. It is also a good idea to gradually introduce single-ingredient foods one at a time.

Even if your child suffers from a food allergy, your family can still manage it and lead a mostly normal life. Check out this article for helpful tips.

If you need support dealing with your kids’ allergies, sign up to UpToUs. We offer Online Groups For Parents that include discussion panels where you can exchange info and tips with other parents.