Giggle & Grow
Allergen introduction chart
Offer one new allergen at a time, in the morning so you can watch for a reaction. Once one has been tried with no reaction, keep it in the diet at least once a week. Tick a box each time.
| Allergen | How to offer it | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | Reaction? |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Egg | British Lion stamped hens' eggs can be lightly cooked. Eggs without a Lion stamp, and duck, goose or quail eggs, must be cooked until white and yolk are solid. | ||||
| Peanut | Smooth peanut butter (no added salt or sugar) thinned with water, milk or fruit purée, or finely ground peanuts stirred into food. Never whole or chopped nuts under 5. Never peanut butter on its own from a spoon. | ||||
| Cows' milk | In cooking, mixed with food, or as full-fat plain yoghurt. Not as a main drink until 12 months. | ||||
| Gluten | Toast fingers, pasta, wheat cereal biscuits softened with milk, couscous. | ||||
| Tree nuts | Finely ground or as smooth nut butter, thinned and mixed into food. Introduce each nut separately. Never whole or chopped under 5. | ||||
| Sesame | Smooth tahini mixed into food, or finely ground seeds. | ||||
| Soya | Tofu strips, edamame mashed, soya yoghurt. | ||||
| Fish | Well-cooked, all bones removed. Avoid shark, swordfish and marlin. | ||||
| Crustaceans | Thoroughly cooked only, finely chopped or mashed. Never raw or lightly cooked. | ||||
| Molluscs | Thoroughly cooked only, finely chopped. Never raw or lightly cooked. | ||||
| Celery | Cooked soft in sauces and soups, or celeriac mash. | ||||
| Mustard | A tiny amount in cooking, for example a little in a cheese sauce. | ||||
| Lupin | Rare in UK baby food. Can be found in some flours and breads. Check labels. | ||||
| Sulphites | Found in some dried fruits and juices. Usually met incidentally; check labels. |
Signs to call 999 straight away: Difficulty breathing, fast or noisy breathing, wheezing or a persistent cough; Swelling of the tongue or throat, or struggling to swallow; A hoarse cry or change in their cry; Pale, blue or grey skin, lips or tongue; Floppy, limp, suddenly very sleepy or not responding like they normally do; Collapse or unconsciousness.