How to Recognize Allergy Symptoms in Babies?

“Allergies can cause a range of symptoms in babies, from mild rashes to severe anaphylaxis. Find out how to recognize the signs of allergies in your baby, including skin reactions, digestive issues, respiratory problems, and behavioral changes. Get expert advice on how to identify and manage allergies in your little one, including tips on how to avoid potential allergens and how to treat allergy symptoms. Don’t let allergies go unnoticed, learn how to recognize and address them to keep your baby healthy and comfortable.”

Since babies have sensitive skin, they can show allergic reactions for many reasons. In order to determine the causes of these reactions or negative sensitivity, it is of great benefit for parents to make careful observations. So what causes allergies in babies and how is it detected? Let’s take a look at them one by one first.

What Causes Allergies in Babies and How to Understand?

Our body reacts to protect itself against foreign and harmful substances entering from the outside. These substances can enter the body through the nose, respiratory tract, intestines or skin. Our body destroys these foreign substances with the reactions it gives and the cells in the immune system. However, in the allergy problem, the immune system reacts more to these harmful things from the outside. Of course, this over-reaction can create some negative situations in our body. Since the immune system in babies is in the full development stage, they can easily react to allergic problems that may occur. 

A careful eye will be sufficient to understand the allergic problems that may occur in babies. Symptoms that may occur in a child with an allergic reaction include:

• Watering, redness or blistering of the eyes
• Itching in the nose, eyes, skin, throat or ears
• Bruises that may occur under the eyes
• Constant runny nose, congestion or sneezing
• Frequent mouth breathing and wheezing
• Problems in transitioning to the sleep phase
• Restlessness, nervousness and fatigue
• Difficulty breathing

These symptoms usually manifest themselves in the spring, summer and autumn seasons. If you are observing these symptoms in your child, it may be an indication that he is reacting to outside allergens. 

Helpful tips for preventing seasonal allergy symptoms include:

• Clean and dust your home regularly. Make sure to wash your linens weekly. However, do not lay carpets and rugs in the house that can harbor dust and bacteria. It is recommended to use those with antibacterial properties.
• Keep your windows closed against dust and pollen that may come from outside. 
• When you enter your home, be sure to take off your shoes and keep them outside.
• If you are using air conditioners, change the filters regularly, as directed by the services.
• Change clothes and take a bath when you get home to remove dust and pollen bits that stick to your child’s hair or clothes while you are out and about.
• It will be healthier to dry your clothes and linens in the dryer instead of hanging them out.
• If you have a dog at home, bathe your dog at least once a week, as its coat can trap pollen.
• When you go out with your baby, you can use appropriate UV protection glasses to protect their eyes from pollen and sun.

Year-round Allergies in Babies

Dust Allergies

Your baby or toddler may be allergic to dust. Dust often lives in curtains, carpets, upholstery and bedding in the home. These dusts, which can be found in every house, can be inhaled not only for your baby but also by every member of the house. Here’s what you can do to prevent this situation that may disturb your baby who is allergic to dust;

• Replace the pillows you use at home with new ones every 2-3 years.
• Wash your linens and blankets regularly in hot water and take care to dry them in a warm place. However, when choosing blankets to use in your home, choose those that are less likely to hold dust.
• Wipe the dust in your home frequently with a damp cloth and vacuum your home regularly.
• Be mindful of the items you use in the room where your baby sleeps. Do not use carpets, curtains and bed linens that will attract dust.
• Cover the mattresses and pillows in your home with airtight covers before putting them in place.
• You can use safe sprays against dust that may occur on your carpets and floor coverings. However, before obtaining them, it would be useful to consult an allergist.

Allergies Caused by Mold Problem

Mold is a growth that can often appear on damp parts of your home and circulate in the air like pollen. If you find mold in your bathroom, kitchen or basement, your baby is likely to be affected if he or she has a mold allergy. Here are some things you can do to prevent your child from being allergic to mold:

• Always keep moldy areas clean. In particular, pay attention to the hygiene of the tiles in the bathroom, the areas where the trash cans are placed, under the kitchen sink and shower curtains. You can use bleach or mold inhibitors while cleaning.
• If you use a humidifier in the room where your baby sleeps, clean this machine regularly.
• Do not leave clothes, towels and shoes in your home damp.
• Keep the plants or dried flowers you care for at home away from the rooms where your baby spends time.
• If you use a wood-burning stove or fireplace in your home, store your firewood outside of your home.
• Always keep the trash can in your kitchen clean.
• If there are problems with the plumbing in your home, have it repaired as soon as possible.

Pets Passable Allergies

Your baby may show allergic symptoms due to dead skin cells, urine, hair or saliva of pets, such as cats or dogs, that you care for in your home. If you have a pet, the precautions you should take are as follows:

• Make sure that your pet does not enter your baby’s room. At the same time, don’t let your child hug or kiss them.
• Do not use wall-to-wall carpet inside your home.
• If your baby’s allergic reactions become severe, it is recommended that you seek another home for your pet.

Food Allergies

These types of allergies can cause serious symptoms in your baby. There is no cure for most food allergies. However, according to some studies, it is said that it is possible to prevent the development of such sensitivities in infants at an early stage. If your child has been diagnosed with a food allergy, it’s best to get him to avoid that food. 

Foods such as peanuts, eggs, cow’s milk, almonds, cashews, walnuts, shellfish, soy or wheat are foods that can cause allergies. Here are the most common reactions of food allergy:

• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Swelling of the face, legs, or arms
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Skin rashes around the mouth
• Difficulty breathing and wheezing
• Fainting

For food allergy, breastfeed your baby until 6 months old. However, while you are pregnant or breastfeeding your baby, pay attention to the milk you drink and the amount of fish, eggs or nuts you eat and monitor yourself.

Differentiating between Colds and Allergies in Babies

It can be quite difficult to make this distinction. In both conditions, symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, watery eyes, runny nose and congestion can be seen. However, there are several distinctive features that distinguish the two.

These;

• Cold symptoms tend to get worse for the first few days and then go away. However, if these symptoms persist for weeks or months, they are more likely to be allergies.
• If the parents have allergies, the probability of their baby having an allergy is about 25%. If both parents are experiencing allergenic symptoms, the rate may be higher for the baby. To find out if your baby has allergies, it would be more beneficial to consult a specialist on the subject.

If your baby has allergy symptoms and you observe conditions such as restlessness or weakness, you can consult a specialist pediatrician and have your baby examined. Your doctor will apply the safest treatment for your baby and will advise you about this ailment.

You may be interested in reading our article on “Food Allergy Symptoms, Testing and Treatment in Babies“.