With food allergies now affecting one in 10 Australian babies, many parents are trying to balance growing advice about early allergy prevention with understandable concerns about reactions.
To help bridge that gap, the National Allergy Council has launched the online Food Follower App as part of its Nip allergies in the Bub program.
The free digital tool helps parents introduce common allergy-causing foods in age-appropriate forms track which common allergy causing foods have been introduced and sends reminders and links to practical food ideas to help continue offering these foods at least once a week.
Research shows introducing foods such as peanut and well-cooked egg soon after a baby has started eating solid foods can help reduce the chance of them developing a food allergy to these foods. Recently updated ASCIA infant feeding for food allergy prevention guideline reinforce the importance of introducing these foods early and, if tolerated, continuing to include them in a child’s diet at least once a week.
For more information or to access the free online Food Follower App, visit the Nip allergies in the Bub website: preventallergies.org.au