Allergies in infants: Understanding food allergies and seasonal allergies

A quick note before we dive in: if your child ever has severe allergy symptoms like wheezing or difficulty breathing, hives (rash) across their body, fast heartbeat, irritability, or swelling of their lips, mouth, throat, or tongue, these can be signs of a medical emergency called anaphylaxis. Call 911 right away.

Common Types of Allergies in Infants

Food allergies

Food allergies in children, including babies, are common. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in every 13 children has a food allergy, with the nine most common allergenic foods being: 

• Cow’s milk
• Wheat
• Egg
• Soy
• Sesame
• Tree nuts
• Peanuts
• Fish
• Shellfish
  
  

Dairy allergies in infants

Dairy allergies — or cows’ milk protein allergies — are particularly common in babies. Of the 3% of babies who develop at least one food allergy before age one, more than half are allergic to a protein found in cow’s milk. This can cause babies to have an allergic reaction to milk and dairy products. Babies may also appear to be allergic to breastmilk if the milk supply comes from someone who eats or drinks dairy products.

Signs of a milk protein allergy in babies may include:

• Blood or mucus in stools 
• Itchy rash or hives on the baby’s body or near their mouth
• Eczema
• Swelling on the face, such as the lips 
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Throwing up
• Diarrhea 
• Poor growth 
• Lethargy (extreme sleepiness, tiredness, or low activity)
  
  

A quick note on diarrhea: if your baby’s poop is very loose, has mucus, or has blood, these are clues that can signal a possible milk allergy.

Dairy intolerance is different from a true dairy allergy, so what does dairy intolerance look like in newborns? Well, if a newborn or infant has a dairy intolerance, it simply means their body has a hard time digesting milk. Signs of a dairy intolerance might include:

• Loose or runny poop
• Blood in poop
• Gassiness
• Low appetite
• Irritability
  
  

These signs and symptoms could happen shortly after they’re exposed to milk products, but it could take up to days later for these symptoms to show up.

You might have noticed that the symptoms of dairy intolerance overlap with the symptoms of a dairy allergy. Your child’s doctor or one of our Summer Health pediatricians can help you figure out whether your baby has a cows’ milk protein allergy, a dairy intolerance, or some other type of food allergy. Many children, though not all, will outgrow a milk allergy if they have one.

Formula allergies in infants

Formula allergies are actually closely related to milk allergies. That’s because formula contains milk protein.

Just like the earlier conversation, there’s a difference between a formula allergy and a formula intolerance. The same stomach-related symptoms that signal a milk protein intolerance can be formula intolerance symptoms. And your child’s doctor can help you find out if your child has a formula or milk protein intolerance.

Frequently asked questions about food allergies in infants

Can food allergies cause rashes in newborns?

Rashes can certainly be signs of infant food allergy, though they aren't always. Food allergy rashes are oftentimes itchy, and may show up as hives. Hives are raised bumps that may look reddish on lighter skin. On darker skin, they may match the baby’s skin color, but may be slightly lighter or darker. 

If your baby has hives along with any other symptoms of anaphylaxis — like wheezing, trouble breathing, fast heartbeat, or swelling on the baby’s face, mouth, or body — treat it like a medical emergency and get medical help right away.

Is there a connection between eczema and food allergies in infants?

Eczema is a condition that affects up to 10% of infants and children and causes dry, itchy, sensitive skin. Eczema is also known as atopic dermatitis and has a close relationship to food allergies. About 3 in every 10 infants with severe eczema have a food allergy too. 

According to the National Eczema Association, eczema can worsen allergies in infants because it makes their immune systems weaker. That soft baby skin we love so much actually serves a bigger purpose than just feeling and smelling nice. Skin is a protective barrier, but when eczema and other conditions break down the skin, it can weaken your baby's immune system causing it to overreact more to allergens.

Can I help my baby avoid food allergies?

Introducing common food allergens early on — around the time your little one is starting solids — is a proven way to lower their risk of developing a food allergy. 

Common food allergens are best introduced early in the day since allergic reactions can happen right after exposure to the food, or even hours later. Trying the new food earlier in the day gives you plenty of time to keep an eye on your baby and monitor for signs and symptoms of food allergy.

Seasonal allergies (or hay fever)

Seasonal allergies in infants — like a pollen allergy, for example — can happen, but in reality are quite rare. Since newborns typically aren’t spending a lot of time outdoors near pollen, ragweed, and other allergens, their immune systems don’t get the chance to notice and overreact to those allergens.

It’s usually not until ages 3 to 6 that children start to develop seasonal allergies — also called hay fever or allergic rhinitis — caused by outdoor allergens like pollen. Seasonal allergy symptoms often include itchy eyes and runny noses.

Allergies vs. cold in babies

If you think your baby might have seasonal allergies, it’s not impossible. But it's more likely that they have a respiratory infection like a cold. (For older children, seasonal allergies are more common, so it may be a bit trickier to know whether they’re allergic to something like pollen or whether they have a cold.)

Some symptoms — like a runny nose, stuffy nose, or sneezing — are common allergy symptoms and cold symptoms. But a fever is a clear sign of an infection. So if your little one has a fever, whatever is ailing them is almost certainly not a seasonal allergy.

Environmental allergies, drug allergies, and insect allergies

Food allergies and seasonal allergies aren’t the only types out there. Babies can also have year round allergies to things in the environment like pets, dust mites, and mold. They can also be allergic to some medications and some types of insects. 

When medication or drug allergies — sometimes called drug hypersensitivities — happen in infants and older children, they are usually caused by:

• Antibiotics like penicillin
• Anti-seizure medicines like carbamazepine
• Acetaminophen (brand name: Tylenol)
• NSAIDs like ibuprofen (brand name: Motrin, Advil)
  
  

But don't worry: this doesn’t mean these medications cause drug allergies in every infant or child. Skin reactions like hives and stomach-related symptoms like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea are the most common drug allergy symptoms in children.

Rarely, vaccines can also trigger allergies in infants and children. Usually, the allergy isn’t actually caused by the part of the vaccine that protects your child against an infection. If a child has a vaccine allergy, it’s more often because of the other ingredients that may be present to keep the vaccine stable — for example, preservatives, latex, or egg protein. If you suspect a vaccine allergy, be sure to follow-up and discuss with your pediatrician as soon as possible. 

When it comes to insect allergies, stings are responsible for 7% of all anaphylaxis cases in children. Bee stings, wasp stings, and ant bites are the most likely insect allergies to cause anaphylaxis.

Diagnosing and Treating Allergies in Infants

How can a pediatrician or allergist help my child with allergies?

Pediatricians and allergists can help you diagnose and get to the root of your child’s allergies, sometimes with the help of allergy testing. If your baby has a food allergy, milk allergy, drug allergy, or any other type, an important goal is to avoid or limit exposure to the allergens. In cases where triggers can’t be avoided and your baby has an allergic reaction, a pediatrician or allergist can help you figure out how to treat it. 

Addressing severe allergic reactions 

Some allergic reactions are more serious than others. Anaphylaxis is one of those and is considered a medical emergency. Remember: if your child ever has severe allergy symptoms like wheezing or difficulty breathing, hives (rash) across their body, fast heartbeat, irritability, lethargy, or swelling of their lips, mouth, throat, or tongue, these can be signs of a medical emergency called anaphylaxis. Call 911 right away.

A child who is having an anaphylactic reaction should be treated with epinephrine to manage the reaction. Parents of children with certain types of allergies may be prescribed epinephrine in the form of an Epi-Pen in case of anaphylaxis. If you ever have to give your child a shot with the Epi-Pen, you should still be sure to call 911 right after because they may need additional or follow-up treatment at an emergency department.

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