New Advice For Children's Allergies

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

04 Mar 2008 07:50 PM

Worrying about your children developing allergies? You aren't alone. The American Academy of Pediatrics recently took a new look at pregnancy, breast-feeding, and allergies.

Old wisdom -- from 2000 or so -- suggested that mothers who had a family history of food allergies (like milk, fish, peanuts, and tree nuts) should avoid eating those foods while breast-feeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics also had a recommended schedule for introducing children to so-called "risky" foods.

The suggestions were making some parents feel like they were to blame for their children's allergies, food allergies, and asthma. But you don't have to feel guilty for eating fish, eggs, milk, peanuts, or tree nuts. Really! The old advice was based on some research that hasn't been backed up or solidified in the last seven years. Peanut proteins can appear in breast milk, but there's no proof that they cause allergies to develop in nursing babies.

The American Academy of Pediatrics is now changing their advice. There is just no solid evidence that says you should avoid certain foods during pregnancy or while breast-feeding in order to prevent allergies. Breast-feeding is a proven way to help prevent allergies in babies, but the food you eat doesn't seem to make a difference one way or the other.

Key points from the American Academy of Pediatrics report:

• There is no solid evidence that women who avoid peanuts or other foods during pregnancy lower the risk of allergies in their children.
• There is no solid evidence that women who avoid peanuts or other foods while breast-feeding lower the risk of allergies in their children.
• For infants with a family history of food allergies, breast-feeding for the first four months can lower the risk of allergy to cow's milk and protect against wheezing.
• There is no solid evidence that delaying food introductions can prevent allergies. Babies shouldn't get solid food before at least four months of age (six months may be better). Dietary manipulation is only useful in very specific circumstances, not as a general caution to every pregnant or nursing mother.

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