How to Know if a Newborn Has Allergies

Allergies in newborns can manifest through skin conditions, cold-like symptoms and digestive upset. Severe allergies can lead to anaphylactic shock, a life-threatening condition. Common allergies are caused by dust mites, pet dander and mold. Food allergies usually appear later, when the newborn is off formula. Contact allergies can be caused by wool blankets, down pillows and comforters.

Things You'll Need

• Observation skills
• Newborn

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Instructions

Airborne Allergens

• 1

  Allergies to pollens might be hereditary.

  Assess whether your newborn has cold-like symptoms that last longer than a week or 10 days. This could indicate an allergy to airborne particles such as mold, pollen, pet dander or dust mites.

• 2

  Check your newborn's eyes. Allergies can make his eyes water excessively and become itchy and red. Sometimes the skin underneath the eyes will look purplish or bluish, something doctors call "allergic shiners."

• 3

  Observe any discharge from your newborn's nose. Mucous discharge from a cold will be colored, while discharge caused by allergies is usually clear and runny.

• 4

  Determine if you baby is not able to breathe through her nose. This might be a sign of allergies. Another sign of allergies is a chronic, dry cough or frequent sneezing.

• 5

  Contact your medical professional if any of these symptoms become severe or last more than 10 days. Your doctor can diagnose different allergies and help you to avoid exposing your child to the allergens that are causing distress.

• 6

  Seasonal rainfall can kick off mold allergies.

  Examine possible sources of your newborn's allergies. Record the different soaps and detergents that might have come in contact with your newborn. Record any new foods that your newborn has eaten. Look for potential contact allergens such as wool blankets and down-filled bed linens.

• 7

  Seek a connection between your newborn's allergies and the season. Pollens and mold are seasonal. Pollens are predominant in the spring and summer, while mold occurs more frequently in the fall when rains start to rot dying vegetation.

Contact Allergens

• 8

  Wool is a common contact allergen.

  Look for skin irritation. This will appear as broken-out skin or a red rash. Don't be too alarmed if your baby has these symptoms if he is not uncomfortable--all babies get rashes now and then. If the rash persists or is uncomfortable to your newborn, have it checked by a doctor.

• 9

  Check your newborn's skin for hives. Hives that appear suddenly usually disappear after 15 minutes to several hours. These are usually an indication of contact with an allergen. Soaps or detergents, medications, insect bites and other allergens can cause hives.

• 10

  Observe your newborn carefully to ensure he is not going into anaphylactic shock. By themselves, hives are usually not dangerous. However, if hives are accompanied by persistent vomiting, wheezing or difficulty breathing, the child should be taken to the emergency room immediately.

• 11

  Record what happened prior to your newborn's getting hives. This is a way to figure out what possible allergens caused the hives. Foods that commonly cause hives include eggs and cow's milk. Your newborn might also be reacting to a medication. Immediately discontinue any suspect medication and call your doctor.

• 12

  Test your newborn for potential allergens. An allergy specialist can conduct simple skin tests to find out if your newborn is allergic. There are several types of treatments available to alleviate allergy symptoms.