Dealing With Food Allergies in Babies and Children

Janice Vickerstaff Joneja, PhD, RD

Coping with food allergy in babies and young children can be frightening, especially for new parents facing the problem for the first time.

For anyone, especially those unfamiliar with food allergy, management of the condition in the very young can be intimidating. Food allergy is a response of the immune system. It is currently estimated that food allergy occurs in 8 to 10 percent of children. Food intolerances, which are reactions to chemicals contained in, or added to foods, can contribute to the growing number of problems many children have with food allergies. While food allergy is much more common in babies and young children than in adults, most food allergies are outgrown by the age of seven. This book addresses common problems in infants and children afflicted with food allergies and food intolerances, and the difficulties faced by parents, family, and others who care for them.

You can ensure that you are parenting well if you educate yourself about the real problems that sometimes lie beyond the realm of finicky eating. Dealing with Food Allergies in Babies and Children focuses on the physiological aspects of food allergies in children, arming parents and caregivers with useful tools like the unique Allergen scale and other practical approaches and resources. The book contains numerous valuable and proven strategies, and provides essential information for dealing with the Top 10 Allergens — Milk, Eggs, Wheat, Corn, Peanuts, Soy, Tree Nuts, Seeds, Shellfish, and Fish.

Dealing with Food Allergies in Babies and Children guides the reader toward nutritionally sound diets for children with food allergies, drawing on the experience of clinicians, parents, and families of children afflicted with often difficult food allergies and food intolerances. It presents methods for analyzing and treating problems, but never loses sight of the child's nutritional needs.

• Offers clear descriptions of food allergies and what's needed to find problems
• Presents comprehensive strategies for dealing with the Top Ten Food Allergens and the most common food intolerances
• Provides detailed information about food sensitivities as they relate to eczema, hyperactivity, autism, asthma, oral allergy syndrome, and more
• Reinforces the fact that developing children need every essential nutrient for their growth and development, and provides information to achieve that goal

Author

Janice Vickerstaff Joneja is one of only a handful of experts on food allergies in North America. She has scientific, clinical, and practical knowledge due to her experience as both a researcher and practitioner. The author of several books, including the successful general food allergies book, Dealing with Food Allergies, Dr. Joneja is an educator, author, researcher, and clinical counselor with over twenty-five years of experience dealing with the biochemical and immunological reactions involved in food allergy and intolerance. Formerly head of the Allergy Nutrition Program at the Vancouver Hospital and Health Sciences Centre, Dr. Joneja currently runs a successful private practice in food allergy management in British Columbia, Canada and is an adjunct professor in the School of Family and Nutritional Sciences at the University of British Columbia. She holds a PhD in medical microbiology and is a registered dietitian (RD).