What Pediatricians Are Telling Parents To Prevent Food Allergies In Children

One of the first conversations I usually have with new parents is about food allergies. They’ve read so much about it, they are never sure what they should or shouldn’t give their baby.

When I first started practicing medicine, this line rolled right off my tongue, “Don’t give nuts, eggs or fish until 1 year of age.” The classic teaching was that by avoiding these foods we would prevent the development of food allergies.

But, several studies have been released during the last 10 years that have significantly challenged and changed the advice I have been providing patients.

The new theory is that by exposing babies to new and different foods, they will develop tolerance for those foods and be less likely to present with allergies later on.

Last week, the American Academy of Pediatrics released further guidelines that support the new and emerging science.

Here’s what you need to know about the new guidelines:

1. There’s no evidence that delaying foods will prevent allergies. In fact, it probably causes more harm than good.
2. All children benefit from the introduction of highly allergenic foods before one year of age. And these foods should not be restricted, but fed according to family and cultural preference.
3. Children with higher risk for allergic disease (severe eczema or egg allergy) SHOULD have peanuts introduced between 4 and 6 months and other allergenic foods introduced around 6 months.

I know parenting is never easy, but hopefully the new guidelines will help ease your mind when it's time to introduce your baby to new foods.