Raising an infant can be frustrating, if only because of the fact that she just isn’t able to communicate directly with you. You have to watch for small signs and symptoms that something is wrong, and even then what seems to be the obvious answer isn’t always so obvious.
This is especially frustrating when it comes to times that your infant doesn’t feel well. In terms of allergies, it is much easier to know if an older child is allergic to something than it is to know that your infant is allergic to anything. Adding to this frustration is the fact that infants are exposed to so many things that they may be allergic to for the very first time.
It is important to understand a bit about allergies when trying to find out how to know if your infant is allergic to anything. Typically, allergies fall into three categories, including environmental, inhalants, and foods. Foods tend to include things like dairy products, gluten, shellfish, peanuts, soy, and corn. Inhalants would include things like animal dander, pollens, dust, and dust mites. Environmental allergies would include things that come in contact with the skin, like laundry soap, smoke, paints, and petrochemicals.
Knowing if your infant is allergic to anything involves first recognition of the symptoms and then an attempt to discover one of the above causes. Symptoms of an allergic reaction can include raised bumps or a rash, which may be similar to mosquito bites in the way they look. These hives, unfortunately, can appear inside the body, such as when a food is ingested. This will often lead to an inconsolable crying, and/or scratching at the area.
Eczema, a dry skin condition that almost looks like the skin is shedding, can appear around the scalp and ears area. This can also be an indication that your infant is allergic to anything.
If your infant has an allergic reaction, a health care provider will typically not do any allergy testing or prescribe any prescription medications until after around 18 months of age at the earliest. However, your health care provider may be able to help you diagnose whether your infant is allergic to anything.