How To Prevent Food Allergies

To reduce the odds, follow these precautions

By Dawn Margolis

While no one can predict whether your child will be among the 5 percent of U.S. kids with a food allergy, "if you have no family history, the risk is considerably lower," says Jay Portnoy, M.D., vice president of the American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. To reduce the odds even further, follow these precautions:

Feed your baby only breast milk for the first six months. Introducing cow's milk-based formula or solid foods earlier is associated with an increased risk of allergies. But nursing is far from foolproof, so if you or your mate has a food allergy, avoid eating the suspect food while nursing--or pregnant.

Introduce new foods at least four days apart. Then watch carefully for symptoms, such as a rash, unexplained congestion, hives, swelling, itching, vomiting or difficulty breathing. Your baby stands a better chance of outgrowing a food allergy if you identify it early and avoid repeated exposure. Some experts recommend forgoing common triggers like cow's milk until age 1, eggs until 2 and nuts and seafood until 3. But keep in mind that recent research indicates parents tend to dramatically overestimate food sensitivity in their babies. If you suspect a problem, discuss it with your pediatrician or an allergist before eliminating the food.

Check lotion ingredients for peanut oil. If you have a family history of peanut allergies, check the labels of diaper balms, moisturizers or any other salves you might rub onto your baby's delicate skin. According to a study in The New England Journal of Medicine, using products that contain peanut oil on inflamed skin may be one reason for the growing prevalence of peanut allergies in children.

October/November 2006