Starting Solids
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Do you have a previous family history of allergies? If not, you likely won't have much to worry about. Most allergic reactions will be mild at first - they get stronger with each successive exposure. The first reaction is likely to be just a rash around the mouth, maybe some hives. And it may go away once you try the same food again. It's incredibly, vanishingly rare to get a strong anaphylactic reaction from one initial exposure during introduction to solids. If it would ease your mind, try rubbing the allergen (like peanut butter) on their skin a little and see what happens. Even if they have an incredibly strong allergy, that level of exposure is only likely to trigger maybe a rash or a hive reaction, at worst. I have never in my life known anyone to be allergic to sweet potatoes, adult or child. My husband and kid both love them.
my babies first food was bone broth at almost 7 months lol there’s absolutely no rush or pressure, just do what feels right! his 2nd food was mashed avocado a few days later. i did bone broth bc all he ever had was breast milk so i wanted something to prime his gut and prepare for food for the very first time and there’s so many incredible benefits! but i remember being so scared too. it’s all gonna be okay, take it one step at a time. the very beginning is underwhelming honestly, 2 spoonfuls and done. the less the better at first!
Its normal to have anxiety over it but if you don't have a family history of allergies it's unlikely that sweet potato or carrots will cause an allergic reaction. My pediatrician recommended I try each new food for 3 days straight. Start with veggies and introduce fruits second. It's scary but so much fun to watch your little enjoy new foods. I even introduced peanut butter earlier on. I was shaking in my boots but baby girl did just fine and it felt good to know i was helping reduce her risk for developing an allergy to it later on. They sell these really cute first foods tracker boards on Amazon. That helped me at first
We have spent time at the allergy clinic (my son is severely allergic to wasp stings). The consultant told us that it’s incredibly my rare to have a severe allergic reaction (I’m talking hospitalisation) the first time a baby comes into contact with whatever it is. (The first time my son was stung he just swelled up, the second time was worse etc) Sever Allergies often get worse over time apparently. Just like minor allergies come and go (my son had a reaction to citrus fruits the first time he had an orange!) he just came out in hives - by the time he was 2 he had grown out of it. I wish I’d haven known this in advance as I would have been less worried about giving nuts etc.
I struggled a lot with this too. my babies first food was the bland plain baby oatmeal with formula mixed in it 😂 the earlier you introduce foods the better. There’s studies that show it can reduce the risk of allergies actually!