Nurse Heidi at The Nest

18/09/2026

These are the 3 things that you should do if your child has an allergic reaction to a food!

1️⃣ Remove the food from the child because often they’re so young they’ve got no idea why they’re feeling the way they feel and they might actually like the taste of whatever it is is making them have a reaction, then wipe their mouth with just a damp cloth with water and also wipe their hands just in case they end up rubbing their eyes and then that could cause the eyes to swell too which makes things feel a lot more uncomfortable.

2️⃣ If you can and if it’s safe to do so, take pictures and videos of the reaction so that your Dr can see in real time what they look like. Sometimes hives go down very quickly (which is actually a very good sign!) But pictures and videos, if you are able to take them, are a very useful tool. Obviously it goes without saying to only do this if your child is safe and there is not a developing an emergency situation.

3️⃣ Speak to your GP as soon as you can and do not give that food again until you have spoken to your Dr. Do not leave your Dr without a plan of how to proceed. This may be to try the food again or to avoid the food altogether until you have been referred to an allergy doctor.

if you want a one page cheat sheet of how to spot the signs of an allergic reaction in a baby or toddler (because they do look different to an older child), then you’ll find at Stan.store/nurseheidi 🩷

members, this is already in your portal, no comment needed! Not in yet? For $12/month you get my whole catalogue of resources & access to 👩🏼‍⚕️ Heidi, join via the same link Stan.store/nurseheidi 🫶🏼🪺

13/09/2026

This one’s for every parent who’s ever felt like they’re doing “too much” over a food allergy. You’re not. Save this for the day you need reminding, and tag a parent who’d feel seen by it 🪺🫶🏼🩷

10/09/2026

‼️ Mild reaction or emergency?

Symptoms can look completely different in babies and toddlers, and it’s not always obvious which category you’re in.

Mild to moderate reactions might show up as flushed cheeks, hives, puffy eyes, a runny nose that looks like a cold, or mild swelling of the lips, these usually appear within minutes to 2 hours after eating. If you see these, stop feeding, call your GP or allergist asap, and watch closely, because reactions can worsen quickly.

⚠️ Anaphylaxis looks very different.

Breathing difficulty, noisy or fast breathing, wheezing, a hoarse or sudden change in voice, drowsiness or floppiness, or collapse. If you see any of these, call 000 immediately, use the you’re adrenaline device at the first sign if your child has one, and always follow with an ambulance ride to hospital, even if they seem to improve.

Young children can’t always tell you what’s wrong, so watching their behaviour closely matters more than waiting for them to explain it.

Get my free guide to spotting severe vs moderate symptoms in a baby or toddler here 🪺 👉🏼 thefirstaidnest.com.au

10/09/2026

{New Blog} What I Wish Every Parent Knew Before Starting Solids (From 25 Years as a Paeds Nurse)

The moment “you know your child best” stopped being true.

25 years a paediatric nurse. 10 of those in allergy. Here’s the thing I wish every parent knew before starting solids 👇🏼

Anaphylaxis doesn’t look like the movies. It’s not always loud. Sometimes it’s just a cough that turns into a wheeze, and a mum saying “they’re just a bit sleepier than usual.”

New research backs introducing the top 9 allergy foods before 12 months. Egg and milk ladders are for diagnosed allergies, not a starting point. And allergy ≠ intolerance, the difference can matter in an emergency.

1 in 10 babies now has a diagnosed food allergy, and it’s often working parents juggling it all alongside a job. That’s exactly why I built a Working Parents’ Clinical Support Program too.

Whether you’re a parent navigating this at home or an employer wanting to support your team through it, I’ve got you covered. Explore my toolkits and resources, join Ask Nurse Heidi for ongoing support, or ask about my Working Parents’ Clinical Support Program for your workplace.

Find all of this plus the blog here thefirstaidnest.com.au 💛

10/09/2026

What I Wish Every Parent Knew Before Starting Solids (From 25 Years as a Paediatric Nurse).
The moment “you know your child best” stopped being true.

The moment “you know your child best” stopped being true For most of my career, I lived by one phrase […]