Q: When is the right time to introduce eggs in my baby’s diet? 

Answered by: Ms Faznim Fazil, Dietitian, Pantai Hospital Ampang (PHA)

Complimentary food needs to be appropriate to your baby’s stage of development and should consist of a mixture of foods that provide sufficient energy and nutrients. The rule of thumb is to always start with cereal based food or grain group, followed by vegetables and fruits, and lastly protein group (such as fish, chicken, meat, tofu, legumes, and egg). Start with small amount. Increase the amount gradually as tolerated and as baby gets older.

Certain foods (usually protein) such as egg white, peanut butter, peanut products, shellfish and certain types of fish (for example kembong, stingray, and keli) may increase baby’s risk of developing allergy if introduced too early. Therefore, avoid giving food these food to your baby before he is 1 year old.

An egg allergy occurs when the immune system mistakes certain egg proteins as harmful. The immune system attacks the proteins by releasing histamine and other chemicals that cause an allergic reaction. There are six major egg proteins that cause allergies and they are found in both the egg yolk and white. However, the proteins in the egg white are the most common allergens. The allergic reaction affects the skin, gut and lungs. Sometimes it may even affect the heart function and blood pressure.

The incidence of egg allergy in Malaysia not known. Commonly starts during infancy when egg is first introduced. Allergy usually disappear when child is 5 to 7 years old. This should be done in consultation with your health care professional.For recommendation, you may introduce egg yolk into your child’s diet around 8 to 10 months. While for whole egg (including egg white) you may start after 12 months.

When you give egg to your baby for the first time, just give him a mouthful or two to be on the safe side. Give it separately to other foods that can cause allergies. That way you will be able to tell if it was the egg that caused a reaction.

To avoid any complications, you can try introducing cooked egg into your child’s diet slowly to monitor for potential reactions. You can do this by:

• Pureeing or mashing a hard-boiled or scrambled egg, ensuring the texture is appropriate for your child’s stage of development.
• Avoid adding salt or other condiments and keep eggs plain to start with.

For older babies, hard-boiled eggs make great finger food as they are easily cut into bite-sized pieces.

The way you cook your eggs can change the level of allergenicity. For example, heating eggs with flour in a cake changes the digestibility of the protein, which is why some children might not be able to tolerate raw egg but can eat cooked eggs or eggs in baked form just fine.

Don’t give your baby raw eggs, half-boiled or lightly cooked eggs. Under-cooked eggs may contain salmonella bacteria, which can cause food poisoning.