bbh | health notes
Minimizing Food Allergies BABIES NEED VARIETY IN THEIR FOOD
B
abies are not born with food allergies, they develop
a baby’s digestive tract as early as possible to minimize food
over time. Food allergies in the United States have
allergies. The guidelines also urge for a variety of complementary
doubled every single decade for the last 30 years.
foods every day. Diet diversity is great for babies and is a key early
New guidelines from the USDA and American
habit in lifelong, healthy eating.
Academy of Pediatrics hope to reduce the instances of allergies in children. While all babies are at risk of developing a food allergy, some of
Important Steps to Take By taking some simple-yet-important steps, USDA guidelines
the most common high-risk factors include eczema, delaying the
suggest that introducing common allergens regularly can help your
introduction of common allergens, presence of other food allergies,
baby from developing a food allergy.
and family history. For example, babies with eczema are more than
Food is best introduced to a baby by eating and entering their GI
600% more likely to develop a food allergy because broken skin
tract during early infancy (e.g., 4 to 6 months of age when a baby
(due to the eczema) are more likely to experience topical exposure
shows readiness for solid foods).
to food products in the environment (peanut dust, etc.).
Introduce Allergens Early Science has proven that the early introduction of common food
• Don’t delay food introduction. Research shows that if a parent delays potential allergen introduction after a baby is 12 months, the baby’s risk of food allergy sensitization increases by up to 400%. If they wait until 18 months, the risk is up to 700%.
allergens to babies reduces the instances of food allergies. Eggs, peanuts, hazelnuts and seafood can all be fed safely to babies
If you are worried your child might have food allergies, take
beginning at four to six months. Other common allergenic foods
this Allergy Quiz recommended by Dr. Wendy Swanson, Chief
include wheat, soy, cow milk products, tree nuts, and crustacean
Medical Director of SpoonfulOne, a leading communication and
shellfish.
health translation for clinicians and parents to protect against the
If a child is allergic, the reaction will begin within two hours of eating the food. The goal is to get as many types of food into
28 • BIG BOOK OF HEALTH 2022 • ChesapeakeFamily.com
development of food allergies. spoonfulone.com/pages/allergenquiz-landing
