Teething rash or food allergy rash - how do you tell?

[cardamomginger]

I have started weaning dd, who is just over 5 months. We've been going through single vegetables and fruits, steamed and pureed, giving 1 new food a day for 2 days before moving to the next one. So far so good. I think. But I know we need to watch for signs of allergic reaction and that one of these is a rash round the mouth. But we think she is starting to teethe (lots of dribbling, lots of chewing on things, but grizzly sometimes) and she gets an intermittent rash round her mouth, we think because of all the dribbling. So if we need to watch for mouth rash as a sign of allergy, but she sometimes gets a rash related to teething (and she gets a bit of eczema round her mouth sometimes too), how do we know what's what? What's the difference? I am confused! Help!

Dribble rash is very common, our LO has it. If you dry the skin well and use Vaseline on it this will really help. If it doesn't, then I guess you'll know it's not a dribble rash, and I'd guess that if your baby is well, (not ill or showing signs of distress, no stomach upset or high temperature) then it's probably not an allergy, but I suggest you ask at your HV/baby clinic if you're at all concerned.