Hi everyone! I’m wondering if someone can offer some advice, I’m really worried about my little girl. She is 7 months old and we are doing baby led weaning. Everything has been going brilliantly, there’s no history of allergies in the family and she hasn’t had any reactions to anything so far. I’ve been trying to introduce allergens separately but from the beginning of weaning at 6 months because I’ve read it reduces the chances of them developing a reaction later in life.
I was out today and gave her some calamari - I checked that it was a safe shape for her choking wise etc. I knew she wouldn’t be able to get much off it but she’s been teething and I thought she might enjoy chewing it.
Within a few minutes of giving it to her she came up in a rash around her mouth. (Will try and attach a picture).
I took it off her straight away and she seemed fine other than the rash - but obviously she’s too little to tell me if her mouth was itchy or sore etc.
I rang the health visitor who told me to call 111. The rash went completely within an hour of her having it. I’ve been advised to ring the GP for an appointment tomorrow.
I’m just looking for some experiences - has anybody else got a baby this young with a shellfish allergy? The health visitor and 111 both sounded a bit shocked that I’d given her shellfish and the health visitor said I should have waited till age 1, but I’ve never been told this and it’s not what it says on the NHS website. I just feel so awful :( and terrified to give her anything else now. My main concern is that she didn’t actually ingest any of it and still came up with a reaction nearly instantly - I’m so scared to think what might have happened if I’d given her something like prawns and she’d actually swallowed some.
Obviously I won’t be giving her any shellfish until I’ve seen the doctor!! But for anyone who’s been through this, is it likely I’ll be told to give it to her again and see what happens? I’ve heard of this being the advice for some other allergies but from my (limited!) understanding allergies like nuts and shellfish are more serious due to a risk of anaphylaxis? Is it also true that the reaction gets worse with each exposure? I am just so shaken and terrified I will accidentally give her something and she will have a really bad reaction.
Thank you so much!