Early Introduction to Potential Food Allergens

For a long time, pediatricians recommended delaying introduction to allergenic foods, especially if you were at high risk for food allergies (had a relative with food allergies or had moderate to severe eczema). But there has been growing evidence that an early introduction might actually decrease the risk for food allergies. One theory is that if your body first encounters the food through your skin, it can lead to allergic sensitization- your immune system thinks the food is an invader and reacts accordingly. But if your body first encounters the food through the GI system, where it should be, the immune system is less likely to overreact.

The American Academy of Pediatricians actually changed their recommendations (that there was no need to delay introduction to allergenic foods) in 2008. And even though it’s been 15 years of recommending early introduction (and then frequently feeding your kid these potential allergens so they don’t develop an allergy later!), the PSAs are still coming through. A lot of the food allergy people I follow on twitter love to reinforce the idea that early introduction is important.

While I fully support getting the message out, I don’t know if food allergy twitter is the most effective way to go. Because, if you are following Kids with Food Allergies or FARE or FAACT, odds are you already have somebody in your life that has food allergies. You know when it isn’t a great time to give advice on prevention? After you’ve already gotten it. Parents, already guilt filled, really don’t need to hear, “Wow, if you would have introduced this food to your kid a little earlier MAYBE they wouldn’t have this life threatening illness that will completely change what they can eat for the rest of their life. Great job, parent. Wish you had fully read your handbook."

The overlap of people who actively follow news stories about food allergies and the people that have already passed the need for food allergy prevention is approximately 100%.

And, if you are a parent, and you did introduce the food to your kid early, and then they still get food allergies? It still makes you feel like crap. I get the need to spread the word- introduce peanuts early! Dairy! Eggs! Sesame! Wheat! Ok! Jeez! We tried it! But maybe pick a megaphone projected at parents with babies who are 6 months old, when it’s actually useful.