Allergen guide
🌾 Introducing Gluten and Wheat to Your Baby
Gluten-containing foods such as wheat, barley and rye can be introduced from around 6 months, starting with a small amount of something simple like toast or pasta. Keep them in the diet regularly once they suit your baby.
When to introduce gluten
Foods containing gluten, such as wheat, barley and rye, can be introduced from around 6 months alongside your baby's other first foods. Many families start with wheat, as it is so common in everyday foods like bread and pasta. There is no need to delay gluten. Wheat allergy and coeliac disease are different things, and coeliac disease tends to show slowly over time, so speak to your GP if anything worries you.
How to start
- Pick a calm day when your baby is well
- Offer a small amount earlier in the day so you can watch how they get on
- Start with something plain, such as soft toast fingers or a little pasta
- Keep other new foods off the menu that day
- If all goes well, offer it again over the next few days
First ways to offer it
- Soft toast fingers with a thin spread of butter
- Small pasta shapes in a smooth vegetable sauce
- Wheat biscuit cereal softened with milk
- Couscous mixed with mashed vegetables
Keep it going
Once gluten suits your baby, it is easy to keep in their diet regularly through toast, pasta, cereals and couscous. Aim for it to appear across the week as part of a varied diet, alongside other grains like rice and oats.
Signs of a mild reaction
- A red, blotchy or raised itchy rash, often around the mouth or on the face
- Mild swelling of the lips, face or around the eyes
- Itchy or red skin
- A runny or blocked nose, sneezing or watery eyes
- Being sick, tummy ache or diarrhoea
If you notice mild signs, stop offering the food and speak to your doctor or health visitor before trying again.
Signs of a severe reaction
- Swelling of the tongue or throat
- Trouble breathing, or noisy, fast or hard breathing
- Wheezing, or a cough that will not stop
- A hoarse voice, or trouble swallowing
- Becoming pale and floppy, or suddenly very sleepy
- Collapse, or not responding to you
Call 999 straight away and say you think your baby is having a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). If your baby has been given an adrenaline auto-injector, use it now. Do not wait to see if it settles. If you only see mild signs, stop offering the food and speak to your GP or health visitor before trying it again.
Where gluten can hide
- Breadcrumbs on fish fingers and nuggets
- Sauces and gravies thickened with flour
- Stock cubes and some yeast extracts
- Sausages and meatballs
- Biscuits, cakes and crackers
- Soy sauce and some spice mixes
Foods in our database that contain it
Allergens with OBubba
OBubba paces new allergens one at a time.
Log a food and OBubba recognises the allergens in it, reminds you to keep tolerated allergens in the diet, and keeps a clear record to share with your doctor. Free to download.
Questions parents ask
Do oats contain gluten?
Oats contain a similar protein and are often processed alongside wheat. Most babies are fine with them, but gluten-free oats are available if you need them.
Is a gluten allergy the same as coeliac disease?
No. A wheat allergy is an immune reaction that usually shows soon after eating, while coeliac disease is a long-term condition. Your GP can help if you are unsure.
Should I avoid gluten if coeliac disease runs in the family?
There is no need to delay it. Introduce gluten in the usual way from around 6 months and mention your family history to your GP or health visitor.
Other allergens
Sources
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
- BSACI: Early feeding guidance
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).