Introducing Allergenic Foods at Home

Introducing allergenic foods to your child can feel overwhelming, but with the right approach it can be done safely and confidently at home.

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne guide (below) outlines a clear, step-by-step method for introducing new foods such as egg, cow’s milk, peanut, tree nuts, wheat and sesame.

Before You Start

When introducing a new food:

• Only introduce one new food at a time
• Make sure your child is well
• Choose a time when you can observe your child for 2 hours after they eat
• Avoid giving any regular antihistamines during the introduction period

It’s also recommended to prevent food from touching the skin around the mouth (for example, feed directly into the mouth or use a barrier cream).

How to Introduce a New Food

Start with a very small amount and increase gradually over 5 days:

For solid foods (e.g. well-cooked scrambled egg, nut paste, wheat):

• Day 1: ⅛ teaspoon
• Day 2: ¼ teaspoon
• Day 3: ½ teaspoon
• Day 4: 1 teaspoon
• Day 5: 2 teaspoons

For liquid foods (e.g. cow’s milk):

• Day 1: 1 mL
• Day 2: 2.5 mL
• Day 3: 5 mL
• Day 4: 10 mL
• Day 5: 20 mL

If there are no reactions, continue to increase the amount until your child is having a normal serve.

For infants under 12 months, half the recommended serve is acceptable.

What Is a Normal Serve?

Examples include:

• 1 whole egg
• 250 mL cow’s milk
• 2 teaspoons peanut butter or tahini
• 2 teaspoons tree nut paste (almond, cashew, walnut, macadamia, etc.)
• 2 Weet-Bix, 1 slice of bread, or ½ cup pasta (for wheat)

For children under 5, nuts should only be given as pastes or finely crushed to prevent choking.

Once a food is introduced successfully, it’s important to keep including it regularly in your child’s diet to help maintain tolerance.

If an Allergic Reaction Occurs

• Stop giving the food
• Follow your ASCIA Action Plan
• Document what happened
• Contact your allergy specialist