Q&A: I Have Food Allergies - Should I Hold Off On Introducing Solids?
Q My 5 month-old baby is exclusively breastfed, and I have food allergies to milk and wheat. Should I hold off introducing solids?
A If you have a strong family history of allergies, I would recommend you try to wait on the solids until closer to 6 months of age. Their is evidence that delay of solids may help delay the onset, or decrease the severity of, allergies if your baby is going to be prone to them. At this point, it may be difficult to know if he really will have them or not, but it is probably best to wait. You are definitely doing a great thing for him by breastfeeding, because we know that will also decrease his risks of allergies.
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Dr. Christine Wood is a practicing pediatrician in Southern California. She is the author of "How to Get Kids to Eat Great and Love It," a book that addresses the issues of why and how to feed kids healthy. Visit her website at http://www.callyourped.com
