Allergen introduction tracker

Offer one new allergen at a time, a few days apart, on a day your baby is well and you're at home. Write the date, note any reaction, and once your baby tolerates it, tick a box each week you keep offering it.

All printables

Talk to your doctor first if your baby has…

severe eczema, or eczema that's hard to control; an egg allergy; another diagnosed food allergy; or has had an allergic reaction to a food. These babies have a higher chance of peanut allergy, and guidelines say to see their pediatrician or an allergist before peanut is introduced.

In the UK, the NHS also advises talking to your GP or health visitor first if your baby has any eczema, or if there's a family history of food allergy, eczema, asthma or hay fever.

Allergen and a safe first form	First offered	Any reaction?	Keep offering (weekly)
PeanutSmooth peanut butter thinned with water, breast milk or formula, or stirred into another food. Peanut powder mixed into food works too.Never whole or chopped peanuts, or spoonfuls of thick peanut butter.
EggWell-cooked egg: hard-boiled and mashed or cut into strips, a fully cooked omelet, or egg baked into food.No raw or runny egg.No raw or runny egg, unless it has the British Lion stamp (see the egg page).No raw or runny egg.
Milk (dairy)Plain, full-fat yogurt; pasteurized hard cheese like mild cheddar, grated or in thin slices; cottage cheese or cream cheese; or cow's milk used in cooking.Not as a drink until 12 months. No chunks of cheese, and no brie, camembert or soft blue cheese.
WheatSoft wheat foods: well-cooked pasta, soft toast strips, or wheat infant cereal.No whole wheat kernels, or bread and crackers with whole seeds or nuts.
SoySoft tofu strips or mashed tofu, or plain soy yogurt.
FishWell-cooked fish, flaked or in strips, checked carefully for small bones. Choose fish that is low in mercury, like salmon.No raw fish (sushi, poke, ceviche).
ShellfishFully cooked shrimp, finely chopped or mashed into another food.Never raw or lightly cooked.
Tree nutsSmooth almond or cashew butter, thinned, or finely ground nuts stirred into food.Never whole or chopped nuts, or spoonfuls of thick nut butter.
SesameTahini thinned or stirred into food, or homemade hummus with no added salt, or finely ground seeds.No whole seeds sprinkled on top.

Signs of an allergic reaction

Reactions usually start within minutes of eating, but can take up to 2 hours. Some, like cow's milk allergy, can take up to 3 days.

Mild to moderate

Hives or a red, itchy rash, especially around the mouth
Mild puffiness of the face or around the eyes
Vomiting once, tummy pain or diarrhea
Sneezing or a runny nose
Eczema getting worse

If it's only one of these, stop offering the food, stay with your baby and watch them closely for the next couple of hours, and call your pediatrician before you try it again. If it gets worse, or signs show up in more than one part of the body at once, treat it as severe (below). Don't cut out a major food like milk for good on your own: ask your doctor, who may refer you to a dietitian.

Severe (anaphylaxis): call 911999your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia)

Trouble breathing, wheezing, or a cough that won't stop
Lips or mouth that suddenly swell
Swelling of the tongue or throat, a hoarse cry, drooling or trouble swallowing
Turning pale or floppy, or becoming very sleepy or unresponsive
Signs in more than one part of the body at once, such as hives with vomiting

If your baby has been prescribed an epinephrine auto-injector, use it right away, then call for help. If you don't have one, call straight away. If you're alone with your baby, use the auto-injector first if they have one, then call on speaker; don't leave your baby to find a phone. Keep your baby lying down, not standing or walking: on their side if they're vomiting, with head and shoulders a little raised if breathing is hard. Go to the emergency room even if they seem better, because symptoms can come back.

Educational information only, not medical advice. From tinysolids.com.

Allergen introduction tracker

Talk to your doctor first if your baby has…

Signs of an allergic reaction

Mild to moderate

Severe (anaphylaxis): call 911999your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia)

Sources