Skin and laboratory tests for food and other allergies are not always practicable or helpful for babies and very young children. Nor will they identify food intolerance or chemical sensitivity.

For detecting the causes of reactions to milk (breast and bottle) and foods.

If you see seasonal variations in your baby’s symptoms, the causes may be seasonal allergens, such as pollens or moulds. .

If your baby or toddler gets reactions only at night, these can be delayed reactions to allergens inhaled during the day, such as moulds, pollens, or pets and animals. Food reactions in very young children are very rarely delayed, but waking in the night, discomfort and restlessness are often due to food sensitivity continuing into the night. The most common causes, however, of night time reactions are house dust mites in bedding or soft toys, fibres or chemicals in bedding.

Symptoms can sometimes develop some months after a change in the baby’s environment, so look back a few months and see whether there was a recent change, such as a new soap powder, new childminder, new pet or new bedding.

If there is no obvious potential cause of reactions, try investigating foods first, and then follow the avoidance measures below for chemicals and inhalants to see if they make a difference.

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• INVESTIGATING FOOD SENSITIVITY: BREAST-FED BABIES
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