Parents have a lot of things they need to watch about their child, especially in the early years. One thing in particular is possible diet restrictions. Knowing what your child is allergic or intolerant to is essential to keeping them happy and healthy.
Gluten Allergy
Gluten allergy or Celiac disease is when your body reacts negatively to gluten or something typically found in grains. Baby Center says there are many symptoms to watch out for with young children, such as brain fog, vomiting, and a bloated stomach, to name a few. To work around this allergy, you should read labels and learn what ingredients have gluten in them. Sometimes foods will have gluten in them but won’t list it in the ingredients because there is such a small amount of gluten, so be extra careful if your child has a high intolerance and talk to your doctor or dietician if necessary.
Lactose Intolerance
Lactose intolerance shouldn’t be confused with a dairy allergy. Lactose intolerance is where your body struggles to digest lactose. A dairy allergy is when your body has an allergic reaction to dairy products. Medicine can be taken to help the body digest lactose if a person is lactose intolerant. However, if a child is allergic to lactose, you’ll need to give them different medicine than you would if they were lactose intolerant.
Stellar Kids points out that soy and almond milk are both dairy-free alternatives to milk, as well as coconut milk. Yogurt and cheese are often digested more easily than milk. Some people can handle dairy products put into baked goods, but some people cannot. So you’ll need to find out what your child can handle or talk to a doctor who can help you safely find out.
Peanut Allergy
According to ACAAI Patient, peanut allergies often develop in childhood and can be quite dangerous. Some people can get injections to subside the effects of peanuts. Other people can’t be in the same room or eat food that has touched peanuts, or they’ll have a severe allergic reaction. A workaround for peanut butter would be other nut butter options like almond butter. You should also learn to watch out for labels that say if the food was made near peanuts, if your child is severely allergic.
While working around a child’s dietary restrictions can be tough, it’s doable. There are plenty of food alternatives on the market for you and your family to try if your child has or develops an allergy. Be sure to check with a doctor or dietician if you do think your child is allergic to something!
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