HOw does delaying baby food prevent allergies

Silver Member Joined: Nov 09 2004 Posts: 873

I keep hearing this as a reason to delay solids, but looking for some literature about how delaying food prevents allergies. I would think that allergies are something that you are predisposed to from birth, ie: my baby has sensitives to soy and milk protein, which were from birth, so how can giving rice cereal etc, cause problems?

Gold Member Joined: Sep 22 2009 Posts: 1451

Actually, I always knew the opposite start them young and the body will adjust better. (Of course excluding Milk, eggs fish and honey)

Posted: Mon, Oct 19 2009, 2:40 pm Post subject:

There are schools of thought on both sides of the fence - here are some of the arguments:

(against early solids)
- the body is not yet sufficiently developped
- there are no teeth yet, so solids are not necessary
- overexposure confuses the body and can cause sensitivities/allergies

(for early solids)
- early exposure can help baby adjust to different food types
- less potential for picky eaters
- increased motor skills (that come with spoon holding, self feeding, etc...)

I DO NOT support either side as a "side" - rather I feed my child solids when I feel s/he needs them and is ready. My 1st I started solids at 4 months becuase he was drinking close to 64 oz. of formula AND nursing regularly a day and was still hungry - so solids helped immensly - he had allergies before solids and sitll has them today

#2 didn't start solids until 6 months becuase she was ready and she jumped from purees and cereals straight to mashed foods with in 2 weeks (she hated puree and still does today!) - she has even more allergies than #1!

#3 didn't start solids until about 7-8 month becuase he just wasn't interested - and was sufficeintly full from nursing and later bottles (which we only began at 6-7 months).

A friend of mine still f/t nurses her 9 month old and her baby seems quite satisfied and is growing very nicely.

IMO, bottom line - you know your child. If you feel they are ready (and interested) - go for it. If you are concerned about allergies, then wait a full 5-7 days between new foods and 7-10 days between new groups (combining already tolerated foods). From my experience, the only thing "early" solids can contribute is if you don't pay attention to your child's reactions to food and if you begin "at risk" foods before exposing your child to the basics first.

Latest research indicates that waiting until 6 months to prevent allergies has actually increased allergy rates. The recommendation here has gone back to 4-6 months. They encourage babies be exposed to traces of allergen food (not whole allergens but eating peanuts around babies etc).

We waited until just shy of 6 months for the other two as was the recommendation at the time. This time I am taking his cues and open to when he is ready between 4 and 6 months. He's over 4 months now but not ready and will probably be closer to 6 months anyway.
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Senior Member Joined: Dec 27 2008 Posts: 175

Well, this is not scientific data, but we started my first one at around 4 months and he ended up having severe allergies. Not a huge amount, but the ones he had were life-threatening. The subsequent ones we waited and they have no food allergies.

My husband's family has lots of food allergies so we waited for two years to even try those foods.

Posted: Mon, Oct 19 2009, 9:44 pm Post subject:

There is also a slight genetic component. Both my DSs started solids at almost 6 months (DS 2 wasn't quite ready but I had a medical emergency that necessitated it). DS#1 is peanut allergic, DS#2 has no allergies. NEITHER CHILD HAS EVER BEEN INTENTIONALLY EXPOSED TO PEANUTS. We don't have nuts or peanut products in the house because I'm allergic to them, and I'm totally overprotective about Bamba and the like in the playground/gan/daycare. Nonetheless, DS#1 doesn't react on the testing, only in practice (when accidentally exposed).
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Diamond Member Joined: Jan 19 2006 Posts: 4428

My baby started having allergic reactions within 2 weeks of his birth. He reacted through breast milk, and never had a drop of solids till he was 7 months old. I had to go on an elimination diet. Because he was allergic too so much, formula was not an option.

Executive Member Joined: Aug 21 2008 Posts: 407

I was wondering about this. I had read a study that the later babies are introduced to peanuts the bigger the chances that they'll be allergic. But my ped. told me no peanuts till LO is 2....

Posted: Tue, Oct 20 2009, 2:30 am Post subject:

Gold Member Joined: May 09 2006 Posts: 1651

Posted: Tue, Oct 20 2009, 6:41 am Post subject:

My DS is DEFINITELY a sabra (albeit with a Canadian mother). My allergist says there's a genetic component as well.

Posted: Tue, Oct 20 2009, 6:59 am Post subject:

Posted: Tue, Oct 20 2009, 10:07 am Post subject:

Gold Member Joined: May 09 2007 Posts: 1360

Part of hte rationale for waiting six months in particular has to do with the composition of the intestinal walls; apparently, there' smore "leakage" from the gut with an infant meaning that foods get into hte bloodstream in an undigested state which they say can cause allergies. That's why waiting 6 months to start solids can avoid undue early sensitization.

As for early exposure, you can expose your baby to peanuts/allergens by eating htem yourself. That way, the baby gets some of the allergen in the breastmilk, but even if there IS leakage from the gut, it was pre-digested by you, so not more harmful than direct ingestion later than 6 months. Yes, there's an official recommendation from APA not to eat peanuts during pregnancy/lactation, but there's no scientific data to back that up.

Posted: Tue, Oct 20 2009, 11:13 am Post subject:

Posted: Tue, Oct 20 2009, 11:33 am Post subject:

Diamond Member Joined: Feb 02 2006 Posts: 4770

One of my best friend's sons has big time food allergies, actually he is 3 and can only eat special presciption formula (which he eats through a tube). This kid was breastfed until the food allergies were confirmed. I believe at the time they tried the elimination diet and it clearly didnt work.

Her second child is only 2 months old and was being breastfed, but started to develop signs of a food allergy and they got him tested and lo and behold he also has allergies, so he is now on nutramigen. I think because of her older son's big time allergies they figure that the elimination diet won't work.

I think in this family's case its clearly genetic.

My DD was not breastfed, started food pretty early (rice cereal at 3 months- due to doctor advice) and she has NO food allergies (B"H). Go figure!
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Diamond Member Joined: Feb 02 2006 Posts: 4770