7 Ways to spot a food intolerance

Does your baby or toddler have an unexplained rash? Begins crying for no apparent reason?

They may have a food intolerance that hasn’t yet been diagnosed.

Unlike a food allergy, a food intolerance is not life-threatening for a baby or toddler, but there are lots of symptoms you can look out for so you know when to contact your GP.
 

How to spot a food intolerance in babies & toddlers

Here are 7 ways you can spot a potential food intolerance in babies and toddlers.
 

1. Back arching

 

• If your baby or toddler isn’t able to communicate when something’s not agreeing with them, they may arch their back when feeding as a sign that they’ve got some discomfort.

 

• While this can be a sign of colic, it’s also a common sign of cow’s milk allergy.

2. Constipation

 

• Lots of different food-related intolerances show through constipation, making the body react to a certain food by triggering a negative response in the immune system.

 

• So if your baby or toddler seems like they’re in pain, keep an eye on their bowel movements to check everything is as it should be, otherwise contact your GP for advice.

3. Eczema

 

• Look out for eczema, particularly if it’s worse than it’s been before. Severe eczema in under 3 month old babies is a common sign of an intolerance.

 

• Watch out for red, dry patches of skin that might be itchy, scaly or flaky.

 

• Other rashes, around the mouth, nose and eyes can also indicate an intolerance.

4. Family history

 

• If you think your baby or toddler may have a food intolerance, find out whether there's any history of allergies in the family.

 

• Check to see if any family members have or have had asthma, eczema, hay fever, rhinitis (a runny nose), runny eyes or any other intolerances.

 

• Ask about any intolerances they may have had when they were a child too.

 

5. High-pitched crying

 

• If your baby’s crying sounds really high pitched, it could be a sign that they’re in pain and another way to spot an intolerance.

 

• It’s a relatively common reaction and can indicate an animal product intolerance.

 

6. Severe sickness

 

• While babies regurgitate their milk fairly often, bad vomiting could be a sign of an intolerance to cow’s milk. Look out for projectile vomiting.

 

• However, frequent sickness combined with diarrhoea could be a sign of gastroenteritis, an infection of the lining of the stomach and intestines.

 

• Get your baby or toddler checked out by your GP if you have any concerns.

7. Swelling 

 

• Another sign of a food intolerance is swelling around your baby's or toddler's eyes, lips, tongue and roof of their mouth.

 

• If you notice some swelling in these areas, try not to panic and contact your GP for advice.

 
More kids food articles to enjoy:

• Food intolerances in kids
• When can babies eat eggs
• The risks of eating hummus for babies and toddlers

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