Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
Are you nervous about introducing allergenic foods to your baby? Food allergies in kids are common, affecting about 1 in 10 people in the United States, but early and frequent introduction of common allergens may actually help reduce the risk. In this episode of Little Lessons, pediatrician and mom Dr. Lena van der List explains what parents need to know about food allergies in babies and children, including the most common allergens and how to safely introduce them around 4–6 months of age.
Dr. van der List also explains the difference between a true food allergy and a food intolerance, what symptoms to watch for, and when to seek medical care. Learn how food allergies are diagnosed, why broad panel testing is not recommended, and how to manage reactions — from mild symptoms treated with antihistamines to severe allergic reactions requiring an EpiPen and emergency care.
Watch more episodes of Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rs-woHEQx69oSImJQHHnqLC
Kids Considered podcast episode on food allergies: youtu.be/FOEqJPNr0ws
This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu.
——
At UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we put your child at the center of everything that we do. It’s personalized care, uniquely sized for your child. You’ll see it in our child-friendly designs throughout the hospital, our farm-to-fork approach to dining, our playrooms and teen rooms and our team that feels like family. UC Davis Children’s Hospital is Sacramento’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care.
UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
Children’s Surgery Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/childrens-surgery-center/
Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/child-life/
Fetal Care and Treatment Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/fetal-care-treatment-center/
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Facebook: facebook.com/UCDavisChildrensHospital
Instagram: instagram.com/ucdavischildren
Twitter/X: twitter.com/UCDavisChildren
——
0:00 Introducing allergenic foods
0:34 How common are food allergies?
0:43 Most common food allergies
0:56 Food allergy vs. intolerance
1:21 Food allergy symptoms
1:40 How to introduce allergenic foods
2:03 Testing for food allergies
2:27 What to do after diagnosis
2:44 What to do after an accidental exposure
The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 4/13/26. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.
#FoodAllergies #BabyAllergies #IntroducingAllergens #ParentingTips #PediatricianAdvice
Are you nervous about introducing allergenic foods to your baby? Food allergies in kids are common, affecting about 1 in 10 people in the United States, but early and frequent introduction of common allergens may actually help reduce the risk. In this episode of Little Lessons, pediatrician and mom Dr. Lena van der List explains what parents need to know about food allergies in babies and children, including the most common allergens and how to safely introduce them around 4–6 months of age.
Dr. van der List also explains the difference between a true food allergy and a food intolerance, what symptoms to watch for, and when to seek medical care. Learn how food allergies are diagnosed, why broad panel testing is not recommended, and how to manage reactions — from mild symptoms treated with antihistamines to severe allergic reactions requiring an EpiPen and emergency care.
Watch more episodes of Little Lessons with Dr. Lena van der List: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rs-woHEQx69oSImJQHHnqLC
Kids Considered podcast episode on food allergies: youtu.be/FOEqJPNr0ws
This video includes an audio description track. To hear the narration of on‑screen text, turn on "English Descriptive" in the player’s settings menu.
——
At UC Davis Children’s Hospital, we put your child at the center of everything that we do. It’s personalized care, uniquely sized for your child. You’ll see it in our child-friendly designs throughout the hospital, our farm-to-fork approach to dining, our playrooms and teen rooms and our team that feels like family. UC Davis Children’s Hospital is Sacramento’s only nationally ranked, comprehensive hospital for children, serving infants, children, adolescents and young adults with primary, subspecialty and critical care.
UC Davis Children’s Hospital: https://children.ucdavis.edu
Children’s Surgery Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/childrens-surgery-center/
Child Life and Creative Arts Therapy: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/child-life/
Fetal Care and Treatment Center: https://health.ucdavis.edu/children/services/fetal-care-treatment-center/
See the latest news from UC Davis Health: https://health.ucdavis.edu/newsroom
Kids Considered podcast: youtube.com/playlist?list=PLM7qvIv8N9Rtl7F3ziKi_A-dm0eKSvQBt
Facebook: facebook.com/UCDavisChildrensHospital
Instagram: instagram.com/ucdavischildren
Twitter/X: twitter.com/UCDavisChildren
——
0:00 Introducing allergenic foods
0:34 How common are food allergies?
0:43 Most common food allergies
0:56 Food allergy vs. intolerance
1:21 Food allergy symptoms
1:40 How to introduce allergenic foods
2:03 Testing for food allergies
2:27 What to do after diagnosis
2:44 What to do after an accidental exposure
The information in this video was accurate as of the upload date, 4/13/26. For information purposes only. Consult your local medical authority for advice.
#FoodAllergies #BabyAllergies #IntroducingAllergens #ParentingTips #PediatricianAdvice
