O/T brand new rash....food allergy??? please answer ASAP!

[Ashelen]

We just started my son on solid foods about 3wks ago (rice cereal followed by oatmeal, then peaches, and now sweet potatoes) and he's been fine with everything..he had sweet potatoes yesterday with no problem. but today, his cheeks suddenly look very rashy. Now, he's a very red-cheeked baby anyway and he's had a little splotch next to his lips that I attributed to drooling, but in the last hour it seems to have broken out into splotchy red rashes. I included a picture...I'm not sure if I should call his doctor or not? he's breathing fine, he's a little fussy but nothing major....and he ate about 3 1/2 hours ago, the rash has appeared just in the last 20 minutes or so. Like i said he's normally VERy rosy cheeked, but not BLOTCHY.

tips? advice? I'm obviously watching him very closely and I can't think of what else it would be besides the sweet potatoes...but there are no food allergies on either side of the family, and we waited until he was almost 6 months because we didn't want to increase the risk of allergy (although my daughter started solids at 4 months and did just fine) so I'm a little freaked out!

[5n1]

does he have fever or anything?? My son has had a rash like that a couple times, some was from food allergy, and the other time was roseola..but if it is roseola he would have a fever, and the rash would spread to his trunk...I would just keep an eye out on him, it is probably just an irratation of some sort, especially with the cool air...

[smjmekg]

Since Elijah's KING of rashes, I've seen just about everything you can think of from the top of his head to his toes (literally, amoxicillin allergy...HEAD to TOE)...to me it looks KINDA like what Elijah would get when he ate something that didn't agree with him, BUT since it was so long after he ate I wouldn't think it was the sweet potatoes. I only say that because without question EVERY time Elijah had a reaction to some food it was within minutes of the first bite, or seconds depending on what it was. I didn't read all the responses so sorry for a repeat question, but have you bought anything new that he may have been around, lotion, soap, bleach on your hands, etc...or maybe could Kaykay have touched him with something on her hands?

[Ashelen]

Thank you for all the info!! and you made me think of something I hadn't thought of before...we bought Grey a stuffed animal from Kahlan's favorite TV show on PBS (Dinosaur Train) so that she and Grey could play together (or rather Kahlan could make believe with Grey) and he was drooling all over and snuggling on it....so I wonder if the drool + the material did that...add the acidity of sweet potatoes and you've got a recipe for a rash!

and thank you :-) he's my handsome little sweetie pie....I had one lady say he was too pretty to be a boy but that he's DEFINITELY a boy and I was like yeah that about sums it up..he's pretty, but no one ever mistakes him for a girl LOL.

[30something13]

THat is just what Henry gets and it is Exema from a food allergy most likely! That is the only e he gets it! That is waht exema is anways really from allergies. I forget are you nursing? He will get it if I eat stuff that does not agree with him. Also if he is droooling and gets near any senthetic material duch as flannel or wool that can make it pop out.

The only thing that totally makes henry's go away is Wish Garden's diaper salve, it is natural and even safe to put on the lips themselves. His dr said he never saw exema go totally away, it has red geramium to take inflamation and redenss away! Great struff! I get it for around $7 at precious arrows midwifery online. THey also have this other salve I forget the name that is for exema. I have not tried it yet though. OH an the quiet time tincture is wonderful!!!!!!!! I was traveling my 5 hour car ride to get my other kids and Henry would not sleep and it took me 2 hours to get 1 hour down the road then I was stuck on the side of the road for an hour and was about to cry. I wait till he goes to sleep to drive and I was super tired already. SO I gave it to him and he was out in 2 mins flat!!!! I lvoe that stuff! He has gotten it twice so far. THey have lots of stuff there all natural!


It would be funny if it was the sweet potatoes as them and avacado are the least allergenic according to my pediactric allergist. Every one is defferent though;) Hope the little cutie gets better soon for it!!! He is adorable Ivy!!! Love the baby blues and those laashes!

[Ashelen]

Thanks girl! We haven't talked in like...forever..I keep saying we need to catch up and we keep NOT, lol.

I appreciate your response, definitely gonna do that :-)

[LosingMyMindInGA]

I would probably just watch him.  What I see in the picture looks a lot like what Gabe gets every winter. He gets these warm, bright red dryish looking patches on both cheeks and they just seem to stay there.  They don't bother him and the only thing I've found that helps is this stuff called "Baby Kisses".  Now most of my kids have had eczema issues of one sort or another so as trying43 said that could be it as well.  With the dry winter weather it will make it act up more.  

Just lay off the sweet taters for a little while and see if it goes away...if it does, reintroduce them and see if it happens again.  

[Ashelen]

Thank you! Hmm I wonder another of my friends mentioned that too..have to look into it.

[trying43]

forgot to mention could also be baby eczema, youngest had that too made his little cheeks red looking. what a cute baby btw!

[Ashelen]

he is 6 months tomorrow :-).

Thank you though, he definitely loves them lol. I am going to reintroduce them in a few weeks...even though he's 6 months he could just be super sensitive, I wouldn't be surprised he's a very gentle little baby. But no matter what's causing it, always better safe than sorry so sweet potatoes are out for a little while, lol.

[trying43]

sweet potatoes are very acidy.  you could probably introduce at a later time around 6 months or so.  my youngest didnt do well with them at first made around his mouth red and he got a diaper rash too but waited till later and he did fine and it was one of his favorites.  also, mango didnt agree with him either, never reintroduced that one, he got a terrible tummy ache.  good luck.

[Ashelen]

er hit send before I finished my thought, haha. I guess I'll probably stop the sweet potatoes for a bit (as recommended by a very knowledgeable lady!) and see if it goes away, then I'll know...I guess that's why they have you introduce foods so slowly :-). Hopefully it's just a teething rash...he's such a red cheeked little boy anyway, lol

[Ashelen]

Thanks darlin! I was hoping it was  a "teething rash" (which I know they SAY babies don't get, but Kahlan did get...although it didn't look QUITE like this).


It just freaked me out a bit because it happened within 24 hours of his first taste of sweet potatoes, and I know that food allergies don't usually show up with the first exposure but more like the 2nd..3rd...etc...

[Sunkissed19]

also, if it feels a little raw i put lanolin on his cheeks (i dont know if u have this on hand) and it clears it up in a day. He just started getting it at 7 months and i know its not a food allergy (for him..not saying grey's is for sure not) if your really uncomfortable though call his doc....better safe than sorry. My guess is he's just fine though.

[Sunkissed19]

Honestly, Grey looks fine...it doesnt look like an allergy to me. Matthew gets this a lot from rubbing blankets on his face or even just drooling...it looks more like it could be a flush from possibly teething? Matthew is allergic to cinnamon and it didnt look like this at all.