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August 11, 2006

Breast feed only for first 6 months

Researchers recommend infants receive only breast milk until the child is six months old to prevent food allergies, according to an article by Reuters Health. While there are no specific guidelines to determine when children should begin eating solid foods, allergists say children who receive solid foods within the first four months of life have an increased risk of developing food allergies. The allergists also advise parents to wait until a child is at least 3 years old before allowing them to eat peanuts, cashews, fish and seafood. The report appears in the July issue of the Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

From the report...
Pediatricians and allergists should cautiously individualize the introduction of solids into the infants' diet. With assessed risk of allergy, the optimal age for the introduction of selected supplemental foods should be 6 months, dairy products 12 months, hen's egg 24 months, and peanut, tree nuts, fish, and seafood at least 36 months. For all infants, complementary feeding can be introduced from the sixth month, and egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, and seafood introduction require caution. Foods should be introduced one at a time in small amounts. Mixed foods containing various food allergens should not be given unless tolerance to every ingredient has been assessed.

Source: Business Wire

Posted by David at August 11, 2006 10:06 AM