To Prevent Allergies Give Babies Solids At Four Months Rather Than Six. Canadian Medical Ass.

Give babies solids at FOUR months rather than six to prevent allergies, study claims

• Babies should be given solid foods at 4 to 6 months old to prevent allergies
• Children should then eat these foods regularly to maintain their tolerance 
• Previous studies show early exposure to allergens prevents allergies later
• Currently parents are told to wean their children onto solids at 6 months
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By MADLEN DAVIES FOR MAILONLINE

PUBLISHED:  20 October 2015

Babies should be given solid foods from as young as four months old in order to prevent allergies, a study has found.

Introducing children to foods that typically cause allergic reactions - such as peanuts and eggs - at four to six months old gives them a higher chance of avoiding a food allergy later in life, researchers discovered.

The advice is contrary to the current advice that children should not be given such foods until they are at least six months old.

In the US, the American Academy of Pediatrics also says solids should be introduced at this age. 

In the UK, the NHS Choices gives the same advice, and says introducing solid foods before this time may cause food allergies.

Authors Dr Elissa Abrams and Dr Allan Becker, of Manitoba University, in Canada, said: 'If parents ask how to prevent allergy in their children our current advice is to introduce the allergenic foods at four to six months of age.

'Once highly allergenic foods are introduced regular exposure is important for maintenance of tolerance - children should eat these foods on a regular basis.'

Earlier this year, a British study called LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut), came to the same conclusion.

It found those who eat food containing peanuts three or more times a week from under the age of one rarely have reactions in later life.

Less than one per cent develop an allergy, compared with 17 per cent of children whose diet was peanut-free.

Food allergies cause breathing problems, and can even be fatal, as the most severely afflicted can have a life-threatening anaphylactic shock when exposed to just a trace of the allergen in food.

HOW TO WEAN YOUR CHILD ON TO NEW SOLID FOODS

To introduce new foods the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology recommends:

1. Introduce a new food every three to five days in an age-appropriate manner (to avoid choking).

2. Start with grains, yellow and orange vegetables and fruit.

3. Introduce one of the potentially allergenic foods, if well tolerated, in small amounts (e.g., cow's milk, soy, eggs)

4. Introduce highly allergenic foods at home.

5. Increase the quantity of food over several days. 

The researchers said food allergies have soared 18 per cent between 1997 and 2007 in the US.

A recent survey of Canadian households found eight per cent reported at least one such allergy. 

In the UK, up to eight per cent of children have a proven food allergy, according to charity Allergy UK. 

The most common allergens are cow's milk, soy, peanut, 

tree nuts, eggs, wheat, fish, shellfish and sesame.

Babies with parents or siblings who have allergies - especially to peanut - are at higher risk. 

LEAP found introducing these children to peanuts earlier - rather than later - reduced the risk of an allergy by up to 80 per cent.

However, parents are advised  to seek a doctor's opinion before introducing peanuts to their children.

Since the LEAP study was published, groups such as the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, now say there is 'strong evidence' to support the introduction of peanut between four and 11 months in infants at risk.

In the US, previous guidelines recommended avoiding potentially allergenic foods until children were one to three years old.

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A previous study found introducing children to peanuts earlier - rather than later - reduced the risk of an allergy by up to 80 per cent

As a consequence some women avoided potentially allergenic foods during pregnancy and breastfeeding to try to prevent the development of allergies in their babies - though this is not recommended by health bodies in the US or the UK.

Research suggests early exposure to allergens in the womb can be protective, although parents are warned never to give whole peanuts to young children as they could choke.

Dr Abrams said: 'It has been well documented avoidance of allergenic foods is not preventive of food allergy. 

'In the LEAP study there is strong evidence early introduction of peanut is in fact preventive.

'How this will change current guidelines on food introduction remains to be seen.'

In the LEAP study, authors said peanut-containing foods could be safely introduced because infants were not fed whole nuts.

Instead they ate at least 6g a week of a peanut snack called Bamba - distributed in three or more meals.

The new research was published in CMAJ (Canadian Medical Association Journal).