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Preventing Child Food Allergy From Birth

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No parent wants to see their child suffer throughout life with food allergies. There are some steps parents can take in the earliest of years to tip the scales in their baby's favor. A gradual introduction to common food allergens is proving to be the best way to prevent child food allergy; it is a process that should begin in the earliest of infancy.

Prenatal Prevention Of Child Food Allergy

With only small exception, it does not appear that the foods a mother eats during pregnancy will have a significant impact on their unborn baby's future food allergies. There is little need to limit food consumption as a means of preventing child food allergy. In fact, limiting healthy foods, especially dairy—much needed for calcium and bone development—may do more harm than good.

The one exception to this statement that might hold true is the restriction of peanuts as a prevention of child peanut allergies. There has not been a conclusive study that firmly proves the link, but some research suggests the possibility of passing peanut exposure to a baby in-utero; it should be noted that strong evidence does not exist, so eliminating peanuts from a pregnancy diet is probably worthwhile only if there is a strong peanut allergy in the mother's or father's family.

Prevention Of Food Allergy From Birth

Infancy is the one time in a child's life when a parent has the most opportunity to prevent future food allergies. Allergies develop after exposure to an allergen. Allergies are more likely when a child is exposed to a potentially allergenic food before the immune system is well-developed. Children's immune systems continue to develop through the elementary-school years. Immune systems improve from day one after birth, so gradual introductions to foods are better because the immune system will have had more chance to recognize the foods as safe.

From the earliest, the best means of preventing child food allergies is breastfeeding. Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months has shown to have the biggest impact in the prevention of child food allergies. Breastfeeding is a good tool for preventing child food allergies for two reasons: 1) breast milk helps support the development of a strong immune system, and 2) breast milk does not contain allergenic proteins as cow's milk and most infant formulas do. If for some reason breastfeeding is not a good option, a hypo-allergenic infant formula is the next best thing.

Breastfeeding mothers of babies with a family history of food allergies should restrict certain foods in their diet to give their baby the best hope of preventing child food allergies (with the approval of her and/or the baby's doctor—for nutritional support). Restrictions are recommended for any food that has shown to be a family allergen, and/or any of the seven most common food allergens.

It is also recommended that infants not be given solid foods until the age of six months; at six months, a slow introduction is recommended, with one new food being introduced weekly so that signs of allergies can be noted. Wheat and mixed cereals should be introduced last, as they are the most allergenic of the infant grain foods.

As the introduction of new foods continues, the following schedule is recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics for preventing child food allergy.

• Refrain from giving cow's milk and dairy until after 1 year
• Wait to introduce eggs until after 2 years old
• Hold off on tree nuts, peanuts (and peanut products, peanut butter), fish, and shellfish until after the age of 3

Research into preventing child food allergies is ongoing; until a more definitive system of child food allergy prevention is established, these recommendations represent the best conclusions of medical professionals and professional medical organizations, and can be utilized as a baby's best defense for preventing child food allergy in the future.

 

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