Steps to Take for Parents of Children With Newly-Diagnosed Food/Milk Allergies or GI Disorders

A food allergy diagnosis can be overwhelming at first. We are here to provide you with guidance and resources that can help you begin your food allergy journey.

Your first step is to avoid the problem food that causes an allergic reaction. You may want to do research on the food allergen or work with a dietitian who specializes in food allergies to learn about common places the allergen can hide, and also become familiar with reading food labels. Even a small amount of a food allergen can cause an allergic reaction, so you will also want to learn about how to avoid cross-contact when you are preparing meals and snacks at home. Restaurants may also present potential challenges with cross-contact, so calling ahead to make staff aware of your child’s allergy is a good precautionary measure. It is also important to emphasize the seriousness of the food allergy so the restaurant is aware that it is a food allergy rather than just a food preference.

It is a good idea to watch for signs and symptoms of possible reactions to your diagnosed food allergen(s). Major foods that are commonly known to cause allergic reactions include eggs, milk, peanuts, tree nuts (such as walnuts), soy, wheat, shellfish (such as shrimp, crab, and lobster), and fish.

Identifying the signs and symptoms of anaphylaxis is particularly important. Anaphylaxis is a severe allergic reaction that can cause serious, potentially life-threatening complications.

Your child’s doctor should be able to provide you with a complete list of possible symptoms. This list of symptoms can be helpful to keep with you at all times as part of an emergency care plan, which is a step-by-step plan of what to do in the event of an allergic reaction.

If necessary, your doctor can also give you a prescription for epinephrine, which is the medicine that is used to treat a severe allergic reaction. Most commonly called an epi-pen, epinephrine comes in an easy-to-use auto-injector that gives a single dose of medicine when you press it against your child’s outer thigh. Your child’s health care team can show you how to use it.

If your child does require an epi-pen, it is important to always have two with your child at all times and teach people who will be spending time with your child how and when to use the device.

You may also want to consider having your child wear or carry a medical alert bracelet so that others are aware of your child’s food allergy.

Next, you will want to educate family, friends, and others who will be with your child so that they are aware of your child’s dietary restrictions due to a food allergy. It can be helpful to go grocery shopping and read food labels together for practice.

Children can also play a role in managing their allergies, and you can start teaching children even at a young age the basics of how to avoid certain foods to ensure their safety. Having your child participate in meal and snack preparation, as well as grocery shopping, can be good practice for learning about safe foods.

It is important to remind children that their special foods may look like foods that are unsafe so always check with an adult before eating a food. For example, a gluten-free cookie may look similar to a cookie containing gluten, which may lead to confusion. If your child is older, you can teach them to read food labels and even show them how to use an epi-pen.

After finding out that your child has a food allergy, focusing on foods that your child can have is an approach that will likely get a more positive reaction. Starting with simple recipes using safe ingredients, and exploring new meals and snacks, can be a great way of taking a positive approach that will help them transition to changes in their diet.

Finally, being new to the food allergy world can be overwhelming, but there are resources and support groups that can help you on your journey. Here at Ajinomoto Cambrooke, we are committed to providing you with education, support, and products to help guide your path and ensure your child receives adequate nutrition without the risk of an allergic reaction.

How Can Cambrooke Formulas Help?

In order to ensure that your child is receiving adequate nutrition, you may want to consider an amino acid-based formula. While we know there are many formulas on the market, amino acid-based formulas in particular are ideal since they are the least likely to cause an allergic response and are the easiest to absorb. Plus, these formulas are complete sources of nutrition and provide your child with amino acids – the building blocks of protein – so that your child has the nutrients needed to thrive without the risk of exposure to allergens or proteins that may cause gastrointestinal irritation or a food allergic reaction.

Steps to Take for Parents of Children With Newly-Diagnosed Food/Milk Allergies or GI Disorders

How Can Cambrooke Formulas Help?

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