New study regarding food introduction timing and allergies
01/10/08 15:34 Filed in: Medical
A new study in "Pediatrics,"
the official journal of the American Academy of
Pediatrics, showed interesting results
regarding our current standard of care regarding
allergies:
It's just one study, but could be quite influential in the way parents introduce new foods to their babies. Currently, the recommendation is to wait until 6 months to start solid food (rice cereal), and then to gradually introduce new foods over the next several months (whole cow's milk at one year), while abstaining from giving foods that are known to be more allergenic until a later age. These foods include peanuts, eggs, shellfish, and berries.
It's a tough decision parents have to make (aren't they all?) regarding their kids. I think that some people tend to believe that we over-scrutinize the details, as some parents feed their babies whatever the family is eating as early as four or five months, and they turn out just fine. But for others, allergies are a real and life-threatening entity (hence all the banning of various foods at schools) and any information that might help delay or ward off future food sensitivities is a good thing.
We don't have any family history of food allergies, so we're kind of more laid back. However, both boys have had some form of atopic dermatitis (eczema), which fortunately, M appears to have grown out of. A's eczema seems bit more related to certain foods, and we recently had him tested (recommended by our pediatrician) because the skin on his hands and face would get really itchy and red (pruritic and erythematous). The results are difficult to interpret, as values are all relative. However, he does appear to have mildly increased sensitivities to peanuts and eggs, so we're holding off on all nuts and egg products for the moment (which is tough since they are a great source of nutrition for kids). It's likely that he will outgrow his sensitivity and will be able to enjoy french toast with peanut butter and syrup once again (that's how J likes his).
...no evidence supporting a delayed introduction of solids beyond 4 or 6 months for the prevention of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and food or inhalant sensitization at the age of 6 years...
It's just one study, but could be quite influential in the way parents introduce new foods to their babies. Currently, the recommendation is to wait until 6 months to start solid food (rice cereal), and then to gradually introduce new foods over the next several months (whole cow's milk at one year), while abstaining from giving foods that are known to be more allergenic until a later age. These foods include peanuts, eggs, shellfish, and berries.
It's a tough decision parents have to make (aren't they all?) regarding their kids. I think that some people tend to believe that we over-scrutinize the details, as some parents feed their babies whatever the family is eating as early as four or five months, and they turn out just fine. But for others, allergies are a real and life-threatening entity (hence all the banning of various foods at schools) and any information that might help delay or ward off future food sensitivities is a good thing.
We don't have any family history of food allergies, so we're kind of more laid back. However, both boys have had some form of atopic dermatitis (eczema), which fortunately, M appears to have grown out of. A's eczema seems bit more related to certain foods, and we recently had him tested (recommended by our pediatrician) because the skin on his hands and face would get really itchy and red (pruritic and erythematous). The results are difficult to interpret, as values are all relative. However, he does appear to have mildly increased sensitivities to peanuts and eggs, so we're holding off on all nuts and egg products for the moment (which is tough since they are a great source of nutrition for kids). It's likely that he will outgrow his sensitivity and will be able to enjoy french toast with peanut butter and syrup once again (that's how J likes his).
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