{"id":199080,"date":"2019-01-24T02:43:55","date_gmt":"2019-01-24T07:43:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/?p=199080"},"modified":"2019-01-24T02:43:55","modified_gmt":"2019-01-24T07:43:55","slug":"canadian-paediatric-society-updates-food-guide-for-babies-at-risk-of-allergies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/canadianinquirer.net\/v1\/2019\/01\/24\/canadian-paediatric-society-updates-food-guide-for-babies-at-risk-of-allergies\/","title":{"rendered":"Canadian Paediatric Society updates food guide for babies at risk of allergies"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Babies who are ready for food sooner can start as young as four months of age, but not earlier. (Photo: Michal Bar Haim\/Unsplash)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

OTTAWA \u2014 New guidelines from the Canadian Paediatric Society suggest babies at high risk of developing allergies be offered common allergenic foods at about six months of age.<\/p>\n

Babies who are ready for food sooner can start as young as four months of age, but not earlier.<\/p>\n

The recommendations follow a recent shift in global thinking on when to introduce potential allergens, the most common of which are cow’s milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, wheat and soy.<\/p>\n

Babies are considered at high risk if they have a history of eczema, or a parent or sibling with allergies.<\/p>\n

The society advises caregivers to offer potential allergens one at a time to gauge reaction. If the foods are tolerated well, offer them a few times a week to maintain tolerance. If there’s an adverse reaction, consult a doctor about the next steps.<\/p>\n

The society pointed to emerging evidence that offering allergenic solids before six months may help prevent development of an allergy in high-risk infants, especially to egg and peanut.<\/p>\n

This is in contrast to the society’s advice in 2013, when it urged six months of exclusive breast feeding for infants at high risk for food allergy.<\/p>\n

The new guidelines note Health Canada still recommends breast feeding exclusively for six months. However, infants a few weeks younger can try solids if they are ready.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe now know that, in high-risk kids, allergenic foods should be introduced at an early age,\u201d Dr. Elissa Abrams, chair of the CPS Allergy Section and a pediatric immunologist with the University of Manitoba, said Thursday in a release.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor families with a history of allergies, these recommendations give them guidance on what they can do to help prevent the condition in their children.\u201d<\/p>\n

Babies who are not considered high risk should start trying foods at about six months of age.<\/p>\n

For young infants new to solids, the society recommends diluting smooth peanut butter with water or mixing it with a previously tolerated pureed fruit or vegetable, or breast milk.<\/p>\n

Older infants can try smooth peanut butter spread lightly on a piece of thin toast.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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