The American Association of Pediatrics is revising their recommendations to parents no how to avoid allergies in infancy. The only sure fire way to avoid allergies, they’re saying now, is to breastfeed. Dr. Shirer, one of the doctors that help put forth the newest guidelines says that the evidence for the old set of guidelines was shaky at best and wasn’t being supported by new evidence. Let’s take a look at the old and the new.
Avoiding Foods While Breastfeeding
Just a few years ago, doctors were telling mothers who had a family history of certain severe allergies to avoid foods like tree nuts, milk, eggs and peanut butter while breastfeeding.
No new scientific evidence has come forth to support this idea. Says one doctor, “Dietary manipulation of a breastfeeding mother simply isn’t necessary except in extreme and rare circumstances.”
Delay Riskier Foods Later
Under the old recommendations certain “riskier foods” like peanut butter for example weren’t to be introduced until much later, in some cases after two years old. Under the new recommendations, infants should get no solid foods before 6 months (still) but there’s no evidence to suggest that riskier foods should be introduced later.
Soy Formula Might Help Prevent Allergies
Soy formula is controversial anyhow, but there exists no good evidence that it helps prevent allergies. On the other hand, there is evidence to support that exclusively breastfeeding an infant whose family has a history of allergies, can prevent at least allergies to milk based protein.
In short, everything that you’ve ever been told by your pediatrician about how to prevent allergies they are now saying is wrong. The only advice that remains for decreasing the risk of allergies is to exclusively breastfeed for at least four, but preferably six months.
I am curious to see though, what thoughts allergists and other specialists in that field say about the new recommendations. Especially with regards to delaying the introduction of solid foods. These new recommendations come several months after a few other organizations like WHO and UNICEF have started actively recommending to wait as long as you can to start solids. . .at least until after six months. One of their reasons? Preventing allergies.