Baby Allergy Symptoms and Remedies

Hives

What to look for: Hives—or urticaria—is an itchy, welt-like rash that often resembles mosquito bites. They appear in clusters on various parts of your child's body: In the case of a contact allergy, the hives will appear on the part of the body that came in contact with the allergen; in the case of a food allergy, the hives may appear on the stomach, hands, face, back, or inside of the thighs. If your baby can't yet verbalize the itchiness, you may notice scratching or rolling to relieve the itch or simply inconsolable crying.

What to do: When they're the only symptom, hives are usually considered harmless and can clear up on their own, but they can also be treated with an antihistamine, such as Benadryl. (Use this Benadryl dosage chart.) But because hives indicate an allergic reaction, it is important to figure out what allergen caused it. Shellfish, nuts, and berries are common culprits, so it is helpful to think about any new foods your child might have eaten in the past 24 hours and look carefully at food labels.