Giving Your Baby Peanuts Early On May Help Prevent Allergies, New Guidelines Say

Introducing peanuts early may help some babies avoid allergies, according to new guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). The guidelines, published in the journal Pediatrics, update and replace the AAP’s 2008 report on preventing atopic diseases — such as asthma, skin conditions and food allergies — in children. While the science in this area is still developing, the AAP’s new report says that there is more evidence than ever to suggest that purposefully introducing some foods to children early in life may help prevent them from developing food allergies, which affect about 8% of American kids and 11% of American adults. For years, doctors thought that delaying the age at which kids first eat common allergens like peanuts, eggs and milk could help them avoid allergies later in life. But in 2008, the AAP’s guidelines told parents that there’s no reason to hold off on introducing these foods beyond four to six months of age. The new guidelines advocate for introducing peanuts even earlier. Since 2008, multiple studies have shown that children who are at high risk of developing peanut allergies — such as those with severe eczema, egg allergies or a family history of allergy — should be given peanut-containing foods as early as four to six months of age, under appropriate medical supervision. Doing so has been shown to reduce the likelihood of developing allergies later in life. Children at moderate risk should be gi...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Research Source Type: news