Signs of Food Sensitivities in Babies

by Sabrina Granniss, IBCLC March 15, 2022

signs of food sensitivities in babies

Food is a big part of every culture. Some foods are used not only to nourish the body, but as medicine to heal the body. Galactogogues are foods that help increase milk production and support milk supply. Other foods can help decrease milk supply.

Food is defined as any nutritious substance that provides nutritional support for an organism.(1) Food may be from a plant, animal or fungus and provides nutrients like carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals that our body needs to grow and develop.

People who are breastfeeding are encouraged to eat a variety of healthy foods.(2) Some foods should be limited including caffeine, sugar, processed foods and any food known to cause sensitivity or is an allergen to the mom.

Intolerance, sensitivity or allergy?

These words often get used interchangeably, but there are differences between each. Food intolerance and sensitivity affect the digestive system. Over time, more symptoms can arise if you still eat the foods causing problems. Allergic reactions to food involve the immune system. Your body sees that food as an invader and reacts by sending out immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to the cells causing an allergic reaction that happens immediately. An immunoglobulin G (IgG) reaction happens when you have a food sensitivity. It is a delayed reaction that happens up to 72 hours later.(5)

Intolerance - Symptoms are usually felt right away or soon after eating and are experienced only within the digestive system. Food intolerances are typically the result of enzyme deficiencies.
Sensitivity - Reactions to foods you are sensitive to might not happen right away. The reaction can be delayed. This can make it harder to figure out all the foods causing a sensitivity. Over time, continuing to eat foods you are sensitive to creates more inflammation in your body.
Allergy - Food allergies are very serious and can be life threatening. Food allergies can develop at any age including infancy. If you think your baby is having an allergic reaction, call your doctor right away. Severe symptoms can include anaphylaxis.

Eating small amounts of foods you are intolerant or sensitive to may not cause too much discomfort, but symptoms and reactions can worsen over time. Food allergies affect 1 in 10 adults and 1 in 13 children.(3) Food sensitivities and intolerance are even more common than that.

Symptoms of food intolerance & sensitivity in babies

Gas or bloating
Colic
Reflux
Congestion
Skin rashes
Cradle cap
Eczema
Constipation(9)
Diaper rash
Frothy, pasty, sandy or watery poop diapers
Blood in the stool
Slow weight gain

Symptoms of food intolerance & sensitivity in adults

Frequent gas or bloating
Heartburn
Constipation (stooling less than 1-3 times per day)
Diarrhea
Feeling tired or worn out all the time
Brain fog
Hives, eczema or skin rashes
Headaches
Frequent colds or congestion
Seasonal allergies
Anxiety
Postpartum depression
Arthritis
Joint pain
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
Mood swings
Weight gain
Nausea

Top 8 Allergens

Dairy
Gluten (wheat, barley, rye, oats*, spelt, kamut, triticale)
Peanut
Tree nut
Soy
Eggs
Fish and crustacean shellfish
Sesame is becoming a concern because allergy to sesame is on the rise

*Oats alone are a gluten free food, but may have come from a facility that also processes other grains containing gluten and the oats may be cross-contaminated. Choose oats labeled gluten free.

More than 170 foods have been reported as causing allergies in people.(3) This can make it hard to identify all the foods that may be triggering unpleasant symptoms. If your baby has symptoms of food sensitivity, you need to figure out what foods are causing a problem for them and you.

Addressing food sensitivities is a bit like being near a pricker bush that keeps poking you and causing damage to your skin. Step 1 is step away from the bush. In gut healing this means eliminating the foods that are problematic. Step 2 is to heal the damage/heal the gut and step 3 is to stay away from that pricker bush - don’t eat the foods you are intolerant of or are sensitive to.

While a food may be out of your system relatively quickly, it can take much longer for the effects of eating a food that causes sensitivity to go away. For example, after eating gluten just one time, it can take up to 6 months for the inflammation antibodies to settle down.(4) So while a food may be out of your system and not in your milk, the inflammatory response can be experienced for a longer period of time.

Testing for food sensitivities

Keep a food journal to track what you eat and how it makes you feel immediately after eating and several hours later. After a week or two, see if you notice any patterns. Because there are so many foods that can be triggers, if you have several food sensitivities, it can be like finding a needle in the haystack.
Elimination diet - cut out all the top food allergens for a period of 6 weeks. Add one food back in at a time to see if symptoms return and identify that food as a trigger.
Blood tests - there are several types of blood tests. It is best to work with a functional medicine doctor to analyze your results and discuss a plan of action. Functional medicine doctors tend to consider a more narrow results range than an allopathic medical doctor. A wider lens considers a broader range to be within normal limits while a more narrow lens catches food intolerances and sensitivities that may otherwise be missed.
Muscle testing or applied Kinesiology - a biofeedback method testing for sensitivities to foods. If the person is able to hold their muscle in contraction without becoming weak when a food is introduced into their energy field, this is a positive feedback and that food is ok for that person. If your arm or muscle is not able to hold the strength, then that food is one that causes sensitivity. It is a useful tool for helping to diagnose food sensitivities.(7)
Skin prick test - also called a scratch test. If you are on certain medications or have severe eczema this test is not recommended. This test checks for immediate reactions to allergens.

Healing the gut

Rotate the foods you eat - this helps keep the immune system calm
Eat a wide variety of nutrient dense foods - consider eating all the colors of the rainbow, food that is found locally and is in season and organic when possible. The Environmental Working Group is a great resource to know which foods contain the highest pesticide load and which do not.
Take probiotics that help the beneficial bacteria in your gut to flourish - real improvement happens when you also change your diet to include foods that feed that good bacteria. L.fermentum found in Lacta-Biotic is a probiotic that supports breast health and improves gut health.
Supplement with vitamins and minerals you are depleted in. Many herbal galactogogues that are lactation supplements are also supportive of gut health.
Digestive enzymes can help break down your food making them easier to digest.

It is not uncommon to realize a sensitivity to a food you never suspected once you begin eliminating foods. We get used to how we feel and may not know what it feels to be at our best until the fog of everyday symptoms lifts. Your leaky gut may trick you and you will crave what foods you are sensitive to.

Reduce the amount of sugar you eat. Sugar has been found to be addictive. Its reward of pleasure has been shown to mimic the reward and craving comparable to cocaine.(6) It is hard to break down and can end up hanging around in the bowels. It moves slowly through the intestines and feeds the bad bacteria. Symptoms of this include excess gas, belly aches and cramping.

Eating foods in moderation

For foods that you have an intolerance for, this may be alright. If the food causes sensitivity, it may be better to eliminate it all together. Sure, it may be ok for a little while, but perhaps not for long. Think of a closet. If you keep putting things in there, the closet gets full. If you continue at some point the closet will overflow and not be able to tolerate all you have put in there. The same goes for eating a food that your body is sensitive to. It may be alright and not cause symptoms right away, but inflammation in the body increases and as time goes by, symptoms begin to express or surface and cause problems.

Taking medications to relieve symptoms does not treat the root cause and can sometimes cause more nutrient depletion and harm. Steroids are commonly given for skin issues but can be addictive. Acid blockers deplete vitamin B12, vitamin C, calcium, iron and magnesium.(8) Cutting out food sensitivities and healing the gut is a solution that is long term, improves overall health and will give you more energy and vitality to enjoy life.

Not every food that you have a sensitivity to needs to be eliminated forever. As you address the underlying issues, some of those foods can be added back in and you no longer will react to them. Other foods will likely continue to cause disruption and may remain food sensitivities for life.