Expectant and new parents get updated allergy advice

by Bethany Sanders (Subscribe to Bethany Sanders's posts)
Jan 7th 2008 8:00PM

Categories: Healthy Kids, Diet & Weight Loss, Nutrition & Supplements

When I became a mom for the first time, my own mother remarked on how much parenting techniques had changed since she was a young mother. I told her frequently, "Just you wait." I know how quickly health advice can change, and I'm sure that by the time my own girls are mothers they'll roll their eyes at our co-sleeping, sling-wearing ways.

One piece of advice that isn't likely to change is that breast milk is the best first food for babies. But a piece of breastfeeding advice that's been commonly dispensed for the last several years is being discarded due to lack of evidence.

Expectant and breastfeeding mothers have often been told to avoid eating foods like milk and peanuts to prevent allergies in their unborn or nursing children, but the American Academy of Pediatrics is now saying that there's no evidence that avoiding allergenic foods will reduce the risk of your child developing allergies.

Good news, especially if you're in your third trimester and craving a milkshake!

Source

Comments (4)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Kendra 1-07-2008 @ 8:30PM

Interesting article - I'm currently avoiding peanuts, tree nuts, fish and shellfish while pregnant (my daughter is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, dairy and eggs). I have dairy and eggs sparingly, only outside our home. Our allergist thought the peanuts/tree nuts were good to avoid, but didn't think the rest made a difference. The problem is, a study may come out tomorrow to reverse this current decision, so why take the chance? I avoided my daughter's allergens for five months after her allergies were diagnosed (and bfed for 19 months total, so it didn't help us!)

Bethany Sanders 1-07-2008 @ 8:31PM

Kendra,

Very good point. This information could certainly change down the road!

Bethany

marcie0305 1-07-2008 @ 10:00PM

I ate everything...well, as long as it was healthy :) and I was happy that my son was coming home to a house with 2 cats and 2 dogs...I am of the belief that exposure to lots of things trains the body to not defend against it...

-Marcie
http://feedingblackmail.blogspot.com/

Carrie 1-07-2008 @ 10:41PM

I was a La Leche League leader for 6 years, and one of my biggest pet peeves was when people proffered bad advice such as the need to avoid certain foods while nursing.

That was never accurate. I'm glad this old wive's tale is dying.