Doctors Lean Toward Introducing Allergenic Foods To Kids Early

For instance, allergists don’t yet know whether holding off on introducing peanut butter until the toddler years will result in fewer peanut allergies among kids.

There are currently studies underway here in the U.S. and in the United Kingdom that will help answer this question.

The shift in thinking about the timing of introducing allergenic foods has been gradual. Back in 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics changed its policy.

A committee within the AAP concluded that there was no evidence that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods such as fish, eggs and peanuts beyond 4 to 6 months of age protects against the development of allergies.

So, on this topic, stay tuned: There are plenty of questions yet to unravel. 

Copyright 2013 NPR. To see more, visit http://www.npr.org/.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *