Help - how do I go about introducing more foods to a baby who already seems to have some intolerances

[vonsudenfed]

We've been very cautions in weaning DD, as we have a bad family history of allergies, asthma, eczema, plus she already has a bit of eczema.

Sooo, at the moment she mostly eats veg, rice, meat and fish, pulses. Rye seems OK, as is corn, oats are OK once in a while otherwise she gets constipation. Spelt caused an eczema flaer-up.

But she's coming up to one, when, in theory, we could try her with more stuff? But What? And in what order? Does anyone have any clues as to what I should try first, out of potatoes, dairy, tomatoes, other grains? And which bits of dairy do I try first. (I have recently offered her some sticks of goats cheddar, but she took one bite and refused the rest).

She has two huge bf a day, so I'm hoping she's nutritionally OK, but am a bit worried about protein and calcium levels.

And is it worth trying to get a dietician's appointment from the doctor to clear some of this up, or will they just laugh at me?

Hope someone can help...

[rebelmum1]

Try allergy UK and the institute of optimum nutrition. I was very cautious with my dd and I don't think you can be too careful espcially if they have a pre-disposition to allergy. They have very delicate developing digestive systems. You are being really responsible by being careful. I have a book by ION on weaning which I heartily recommend. Dairy and gluten are the ones to be most careful of. Just watch for reactions and then withdraw. For my dd cows milk caused a huge extent of health problems, particularly in the excess production of mucus and diaharea (can never spell it). The mucus leads to infections, impetigo, chest infections etc and diaharrea the reduced absorption of nutrients. Great for BF this is the best thing you can do imho for allergies. I don't know how you feel about alternatives but we have achieved great success with chinese medicine.

www.allergyuk.org
www.ion.ac.uk/

[rebelmum1]

ah ha www.amazon.co.uk/Optimum-Nutrition-Babies-Young-Children/dp/0749920289?tag=mumsnet&ascsubtag=mnforum-21

[ac27]

My son had eczema practically from birth, and as we were weaning him we discovered by terrifying trial and error that he also had food allergies. The dermatologist who was treating him for his eczema told us that babies with eczema or egg allergy had a high risk of going on to develop peanut allergy, which we were more than slightly freaked out by.

The dermatologist recommended that we get in touch with a team at St Thomas's called the Leap Study www.leapstudy.co.uk, led by the UK's two leading allergy consultants, Prof. Lack and Dr. DuToit. After much toing and froing we decided to see them, and it was the best thing we did -

They are in touch with us ongoingly, whizz us in to see them if we have the smallest concern, ongoingly allergy test and monitor, have their senior research dietitian overlook our son's diet, and call every two weeks to make sure everything is okay. Plus they cover all travel expenses to and from St Thomas's.

I really can't recommend getting in touch with them enough - they will make sure your daughter is eating the best possible diet, and look after you all into the future if any further intolerances or allergies come up. They've just been so brilliant with our son.