9 Tips For Lowering Baby's Risk Of Developing Eczema and Food Allergies

If you're worried about your baby developing eczema and food allergies, you are not alone.

These conditions are on the rise, and they can significantly and negatively affect the quality of life and health of your child, and your entire family.

There are strategies that can help lower the risk that your baby will develop eczema and food allergies. Here are my top 9!

1. While pregnant and breastfeeding, mom can eat a varied and healthy diet (whole, real foods) that includes the top allergens (as long as mom isn't allergic).

2. While pregnant and breastfeeding, mom can eat lots of omega-3-rich fish (salmon, halibut, mackerel) and other sources of omegas like flax and chia seeds, and avocados. Taking omega-3 supplements that contain DHA and EPA can help.

3. While pregnant and breastfeeding, mom can supplement with vitamin D. Levels should be checked pre-conception and in early pregnancy with supplementation adjusted accordingly, and go for follow-up blood tests after 3 months.

4. What's happening in your gut will impact your baby's risk of developing allergic conditions and their overall health. Check gut health, preferably pre-conception, and address existing imbalances. If you have gut problems, now is the time to address them! If you are pregnant, you can explore what's happening in your gut; options for addressing identified imbalances however aren't as robust.

5. While pregnant and breastfeeding, and during infancy for your baby (and ongoing), supplement with a probiotic, like MegaSporeBiotic. It can be taken during pregnancy, breastfeeding, and given to your baby. Get your MegaSporeBiotic HERE.

6. Moms and moms-to-be, get your nutrient levels checked, preferably pre-conception. You are growing a human. Your body needs fuel to do this and everything else it’s supposed to. Take a prenatal and supplement additionally where needed based on your test results.

7. Introduce solids to your baby on time, which for most is by 6 months. Introducing solids too soon or later increases the risk of developing food allergies. If there isn't an existing allergy, introduce the top allergens to your baby during this time too. Keeping these out unnecessarily increases the risk of developing an allergy to them.

8. If your baby has eczema, it's even more vital that allergenic foods are introduced on time, as long as there isn't an existing allergy to them. Those with eczema have an even greater risk of developing food allergies.

9. Lower your stress levels. Research points to a higher risk of children developing eczema if their mothers are exposed to stress during pregnancy. Stress factors include perceived and psychological stress before conception, prenatal anxiety and/or depression, adverse life events, and work-related stress during pregnancy. It’s also been found that babies can pick up on their mother’s stress and show corresponding changes in their bodies.

References

• doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.i6685

• https://www.allergy.org.au/patients/allergy-prevention/ascia-how-to-introduce-solid-foods-to-babies

• https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5876940/

• https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/0956797613518352

Winning Strategies for Picky Eaters: Top Tips for Smooth Supplement Taking

Photo credit: Jennifer Brand

Did You Know It Can Take Multiple Introductions Before Your Child Accepts a New Food?

It might take 10, 20, or even 100 tries before your child develops a taste for certain foods. Don't give up just because it didn’t work the first few times. By 9 months old, babies begin to establish their taste preferences, so now is the time to prevent picky eating habits.

Take my dad, for example. He’s always been a picky eater. As a kid, if he didn’t like something, my grandma never offered it again. Recently, though, I got him to try kale chips and Brussels sprouts—foods he never would have touched before. He even enjoyed a BBQ chicken sandwich, which is huge considering he once told me ketchup was too spicy!

If I can get my dad to expand his palate, I know you can help your child do the same. Here are some strategies to help:

1. You Decide What’s on the Menu
   You’re in charge of your child’s nutrition. Keep offering the foods you want them to eat, even if they don’t eat it the first few times. Exposure is key!

2. Small Portions, Big Impact
   Serve small portions of new foods, allowing your child to explore and play with it. Getting familiar with new textures and smells is a step toward acceptance.

3. Let Them Take Control
   Give your child a spoon, let them self-feed, and cut foods into small pieces to avoid choking hazards. Sometimes having control over how they eat encourages them to try more.

4. Catch Them When They’re Hungry
   Offer new foods when your child is truly hungry—there’s more motivation to try something new.

5. Make It Fun!
   Cook meals together, sample foods while preparing, or visit stores that offer samples like Whole Foods or Costco. Children are more likely to try something in a fun environment.

6. Lead By Example
   Children mimic their parents. If they see you enjoying healthy foods, they’ll want to join in.

7. Avoid Separate Menus
   Serving different meals to different family members encourages picky habits. Stick to one family meal, modifying only for medical conditions like celiac disease.

8. Explore New Textures & Tastes
   If your child seems sensitive to certain foods, consult with a professional to rule out underlying issues.

Most importantly, don’t give up! It might take time, but persistence pays off.

Supplement Struggles? Here’s How to Make It Easier:

Getting kids to take supplements can be tricky. They might be cooperative one day and stubborn the next. But don't worry—there are plenty of creative ways to make it easier:

1. Offer Choices
   Let them decide how, when, and where to take their supplements.

2. Safety First
   Divide doses into smaller portions, and if using a syringe, aim for the lower cheek to avoid choking.

3. Explain the Benefits
   Help your child understand why the supplements are important. For example, let them know it will help their skin feel better or help them sleep.

4. Positive Reinforcement
   Praise them when they take their supplements or use a reward system like stickers (but be careful not to attach a reward to everything).

5. Pick the Right Form
   Supplements come in many forms—chewables, liquids, powders. Some capsules can even be opened and mixed into food.

6. Make it Fun
   Turn supplement time into a game or mix supplements into smoothies, yogurt, or apple sauce. You can also alternate bites of food with doses of supplements.

7. Be Realistic
   Offer realistic quantities of food or drinks with the supplements so your child gets the full dose.

8. Lead by Example
   Show your child that you don’t think the supplements are “gross.” Take yours too (if safe for you).

9. Trouble? Ask for Help
   If your child refuses, vomits, or spits out their supplements, ask your practitioner if it’s okay to try another dose or another form.

Most importantly, don’t give up! It may take some trial and error, but you’ll find what works best.

What to Mix Supplements In:

• Smoothies or smoothie popsicles

• Applesauce or pureed fruits/veggies

• Yogurt

• Juice, water, milk, or tea

• On a spoon with honey, maple syrup, or oils like coconut or olive oil

What to Avoid:

Avoid creating stress and anxiety around supplement time. Forcing it may create a negative association with food. Stay patient, keep trying, and don’t give up!

References

Parenting Stack Exchange. How to get a toddler to start chewing and eating solids. Parenting Stack Exchange. https://parenting.stackexchange.com/questions/7235/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-start-chewing-and-eating-solids. Published August 13, 2013. Accessed October 19, 2024.

Brown J. Nutrition through the Life Cycle. 4th ed. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth; 2011.

Fein SB, Li R, Chen J, Grummer-Strawn LM. Breastfeeding practices: does method of collection matter? Am J Clin Nutr. 2011;94(suppl 6):2006S-2012S. doi:10.3945/ajcn.110.009639.

Fujimori M, Tohno E, Yaguchi Y, Matsuoka A, Ohta K. The effectiveness of probiotic supplementation on constipation: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Dig Dis Sci. 2014;59(8):1983-1992. doi:10.1016/j.peds.2013.12.026.

Ritz C, Moller N, Henningsen J, et al. The effect of dietary fiber intake on the development of type 1 diabetes in children at risk. Acta Paediatr. 2013;102(5):508-514. doi:10.1111/apa.12078.

Children's Hospital Los Angeles. Nine stress-free tips for giving your child medicine. Available at: https://www.chla.org/blog/rn-remedies/nine-stress-free-tips-giving-your-child-medicine. Accessed October 19, 2024.

Introducing Solid Foods

Photo credit: life is fantastic

Ideally, babies should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months, as breast milk provides all the calories and nutrients your baby needs. If breastfeeding isn’t possible, formula is a suitable alternative.

Around 6 months, begin introducing solids. Some babies may be ready between 4-6 months, while others might need until 6-8 months. Every baby is different, so follow their cues rather than sticking strictly to the calendar.

Continue breastfeeding for at least the first year, or as long as it works for you and your baby. Formula-fed babies can transition off formula around 12 months.

Timing matters when introducing solids. Starting too early (before 4 months) can increase the risk of choking and reduce essential breast milk or formula intake. Waiting too long (after 7 months) may increase the risk of food allergies.

Around 6 months is a key time because your baby’s iron stores, built up during pregnancy, are depleted. Introducing iron-rich foods like meat or animal proteins is crucial for their development.

For babies with eczema, introducing solid foods can feel overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be. Keep these 3 goals in mind:

1. Ensure proper nutrition for growth and development.

2. Introduce allergenic foods unless your baby has a diagnosed IgE allergy. Delaying these can increase the risk of developing allergies, especially when rashes are present due to a compromised skin barrier.

3. Expose your baby to a variety of flavors and textures. Encourage exploration, and don’t worry about messes—let them play with their food!

Key first foods:

• Focus on iron and zinc, which are often limited in breastfed babies. Meat, poultry, and fish are great options. Beans, whole grains, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, and avocados provide smaller amounts of iron and zinc. These nutrients are critical for healthy skin.

• Include healthy fats like avocado, nut butters, grass-fed butter, ghee, and oils (olive, avocado, coconut). Fatty fish like salmon are great sources of omega-3s, which support skin, gut, and brain health.

• Incorporate a variety of fruits and vegetables to help your baby explore new tastes and textures while supplying antioxidants to reduce inflammation, a key factor in eczema.

More tips for introducing solids:

• If your baby has known IgE allergies, consult your healthcare provider first.

• Start with small meals (5-6 baby spoonfuls) and keep them brief (about 10 minutes), following your baby’s interest.

• It may take several tries (sometimes 10, 20, or even 30 attempts) before your baby accepts a new food. Be patient and persistent.

• Make mealtimes pleasant—limit distractions, serve appropriate portions, and enjoy meals together.

Allergen introduction: Research shows that introducing common allergens like peanuts during the first year may help prevent allergies. Studies also suggest that early introduction of eggs might reduce the risk of egg allergies. Discuss this with your pediatrician.

Always monitor for signs of allergic reactions with new foods, such as hives, rashes, vomiting, wheezing, or difficulty breathing.

References:

Parenting Stack Exchange. (n.d.). How to get a toddler to start chewing and eating solids? Parenting Stack Exchange. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://parenting.stackexchange.com/questions/7235/how-to-get-a-toddler-to-start-chewing-and-eating-solids

Brown, J. (2011). Nutrition through the life cycle (4th ed.). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth.

BabyGooroo. (n.d.). Risks associated with introducing solids too early or too late. BabyGooroo. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://babygooroo.com/articles/risks-associated-with-introducing-solids-too-early-or-too-late

McNulty, J. (n.d.). Later infancy & toddlerhood. In Nutrition science. Open Oregon Educational Resources. Retrieved October 19, 2024, from https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/nutritionscience/chapter/11c-later-infancy-toddlerhood/

McNulty, J. (n.d.). Later infancy & toddlerhood. In Nutrition science. Open Oregon Educational Resources. Retrieved from https://openoregon.pressbooks.pub/nutritionscience/chapter/11c-later-infancy-toddlerhood/