Preventing Child Food Allergy from Birth

Prenatal Prevention of Child Food Allergy

There is no clearcut evidence to show that the food a mother eats during pregnancy has any appreciable effect (except probably for peanuts) on their unborn baby's future food allergies. There is also no necessity to limit food consumption for preventing child food allergy.  For that matter limiting healthy foods such as dairy does more harm to the mother’s health. Dairy is very much needed for calcium and bone development.

One exception to the above is that the mother should restrict eating peanuts to prevent child peanut allergies to her child; there is no conclusive study that proves this link. Some researchers have found that there is a possibility of passing peanut exposure through the uterus; even for this no strong evidence exists. As a matter of safety it is advisable for the mother to avoid peanuts in her diet if there is a strong peanut allergy in the mother's or father's family.

Prevention of Food Allergy from Birth

The parent has the golden opportunity to prevent future food allergies for the child when the child is in its early formative years. The allergies develop due to exposure to an allergen; child food allergy reactions are more likely when the child gets exposed to a potentially allergenic food before the proper development of immune system.  The development of children’s immune systems continues throughout the elementary school years.  Since immune systems develop from the day the child is born, by introducing foods gradually will give more time to the immune systems to recognize the foods as safe.

Breast feeding is the best way of preventing the occurrence of child food allergies. It has been found that a child who has been breastfed exclusively for the first six months has shown great resistance to food allergies. Breastfeeding is beneficial due to the following reasons.

	Breast milk supports the development of a strong immune system
	Absence of allergenic proteins in breast milk prevents child food allergy; cow's milk and most infant formulas do contain allergenic proteins.

In case breastfeeding is not possible for any specific reason, the next best thing would be a hypo-allergenic infant formula.

In case the child’s family members were affected by food allergies it is essential for the breastfeeding mothers of babies to limit certain foods in their diet to facilitate prevention of child food allergies; this has to done in consultation with the doctor. One must refrain from taking any food which has shown to be a family allergen, and/or any of the seven most common food allergens.

Until the age of six months, it is advisable that infants are not given solid foods; when the child is 6 months old, the child can be introduced slowly to solid foods at the rate of one per week with a view to check any signs of allergies due to any of these foods. Since wheat and mixed cereals are the most allergenic of the infant grain foods they should be introduced last.

The American Academy of Pediatrics for preventing child food allergy has recommended the following schedule in the introduction of new foods for children.

	Refrain from Giving cow's milk and dairy only after 1 year
	Start eggs only after 2 years
	Refrain from giving tree nuts, peanuts, peanut products, peanut butter, fish and shellfish until the age of 3

An ongoing research is taking place regarding prevention of child food allergic reactions; as of now no clear definitive system of child food allergy prevention has been approved. The recommendations available at represent are the best conclusions made by medical professionals and professional medical organizations. These are useful for preventing child food allergy in the baby for the future.