To feel vindicated regarding recent news articles concerning early introduction of allergens

[Wafflington]

Several news articles recently have highlighted data from studies pointing out that early introduction of allergens (eg peanuts) from 4-6months of age significantly reduces formation of allergies

It feels like a relief somehow. I have a background in immunology and have been aware of these studies for a long time out of personal interest. However I have, countless times, been absolutely ripped to shreds by other mums on social media/forums/etc for daring to suggest that early introduction of allergens reduces the risk of allergies. Literally been called all sorts of horrible names by people who insist you absolutely cannot EVER give ANY kind of solids before 6 months, and absolutely never give any allergens like peanuts before at least 12 months. That if you dare to do this or suggest it, you're a shit mum and should rot in hell and all your children will grow up allergic to everything under the sun

Feels somewhat vindicated now to see news reports on the TV agreeing with me I suppose

Not really sure why I'm posting this to be honest, other than I hope NHS guidelines consider the latest data and make any necessary changes to recommendations on infant feeding 🤷‍♀️

Well you’ve pleased me, OP. Seems like I accidentally did everything right, which I probably wouldn’t have if my children had been born a few years later.

Sadly, they’re all allergic to cats, despite their early and constant exposure, though none of them developed their dad’s extreme eczema, for which I am truly grateful.

DappledThings

I do suspect many had self diagnosed but yes I would say half of the mums we saw thought they needed to be dairy free. The NHS do publish their own figures in diagnosis and it’s completely crazy. I think IIRC they went up 600% in one year. And then follows prescriptions for special formula.

Dd1 was born in the U.K., at the time it was no peanuts in third trimester of pregnancy, nor when breastfeeding, not before 3 years old. Weaning was 4-6 months when baby is ready, I offered banana and baby rice at about 17 /18 weeks. Dd2 was born in the USA, they gave me coupons for food as low income (far higher than our incomes in the U.K. but low for there apparently, wasn't complaining) and it included peanut butter, go figure, but they were sag weaning is 6-8 months. Dd2?wasn't really interested in food earlier anyway.

Neither of mine have allergies

That’s really interesting, both mine were EBF and I weaned my eldest at 5m and my youngest just under 6m (he just didn’t seem interested before that). I always thought I had done the wrong thing - but instinctively it felt right.

EBF, with allergy symptoms at 2 months, confirmed following skin prick tests and exclusion diet (mother). Eventually blood testing, food challenges and now declared likely to develop anaphylaxis. Wish it was so simple as wean and introduce early.

This isn't news though? My son is 10 and I remember being told when he was a baby that I should not delay introducing allergens like nuts. It sounds like the guidance you really want changed is the no weaning before 6 months rather than anything allergy specific?

My son was involved in the study (I think it was called the 'EAT' study at the time), which I assume this research was based on. I have some doubts about the validity and reliability of the results and feel the study was conducted in a slightly bias way (eg. I was asked whether I'd rather be in the intervention group (son getting exposed to early allergens), or the control group (son just breast feeds only til 6 months) and I said the intervention group. The person asking said 'ill see what I can do', and low and behold we were 'randomised' to the intervention group.

That said, my son who was fed egg, wheat, peanut, fish and milk at 3 or 4 months old now has no allergies at all (he's now nearly 12!!) so there's something in it :)

Children in Middle Eastern /south Asian countries have the lowest nut allergy's.

Why? Because they eat peanuts, tahini and other nuts during pregnancy and weaning

I wish it were that simple, but I really don't think anyone has a clue when it comes to this stuff. My done has allergies identified through early exposure. Blue lighted to hospital at 5 months. I think it could be related to me having antibiotics during labour, due to group b strep.

But who knows.

Oh, and I ate everything during pregnancy

This makes sense. I don’t remember food allergies being a concern when I was growing up in the 70s. It seems to be far more widespread now.

I’m also interested for the same reason. My daughter (now 14) was given some formula in hospital as a newborn and was really sick. I was really poorly so that night pressed my buzzer for some formula and no one came so I decided to try to feed her myself (which is a blessing now) and so I was marked as breastfeeding. Anyway, I tried her with some formula at 6 weeks and she went blue and floppy and was rushed to hospital. They said try a different brand, same response. So I breastfed her until she was 18 months old (alongside food obviously) when she started neocate. At 11 months she has rast tests which came back positive for milk allergy. She still has a very severe milk allergy now (several times has had to use her epipen sadly). I imagine in the ‘olden days’ she would have been a failure to thrive baby, which is why there were fewer allergies as the baby wouldn’t have survived. Obviously I might be wrong.

The data I read suggested it's best to expose babies to CMPA (whether formula or through mums diet/milk) by something really really early like 2 weeks of life, but honestly not going to pretend I'm an expert on this either!

We weaned at 4 month with a hungry dc no allergies and robust immune system

I feel vindicated too, my kids were spread over different rules so the eldest, weaned at 4 mo the,the last I was told 6 months so just went for 5 mo ths and he was fine. So hard for people

My son was part of the LEAP study. It was a huge study with unheard of compliance. We were not asked which group we wanted to be in. It was very rigorous.

The study has only just finished (several sub studies ran after the initial 5 year one) and we had our last family appointment in the summer, after 14 years as part of the study.

The advice is already to introduce them at 6 months isn't it?

When I had my son I was told not to give solids before 6 months - due to potential
kidney failure. My dad was a nephrologist - I believed his advice above the nhs and midwife

Also gave both babies a variety of foods - both are very healthy and has no allergies

The advice to new parents is too confusing and behind what the actual
science says

Ah well I exposed ds to CMP during the first to weeks of life and he developed an allergy to it by 4 months. He was allergic to peanuts and celery too.

I was bottlefed and developed a cmp allergy aged 5. I was also allergic to fish and shellfish and developed a life-threatening allergy to rabbit and horse dander (these are the two animals I was exposed to as a young child).

So I'm glad you feel vindicated OP but the advice is bollocks for my family

I’m also interested in the relationship between hyperemesis and allergies. I was on anti sickness tablets the whole way through and spent months on a drip. My daughter’s paed said after her body was reacting to what I was eating even before she was born but said there had never been studies on this.

My breastfed son doesn't have CMPA

Weaning has always been so divisive. I remember tying myself up in knots about doing the right thing and someone was always ready to criticize whatever you did. I still believe that the ability to sit is an important factor in being ready to wean, my middle didn't sit until he was about 10.5 months and started accepting more food about 11 months. iirc the advice when I had my youngest (11) was to introduce allergens earlier if you had a family history.

I still chuckle though at the weaning talk I went to where they were trying to bestow on us the evils of jars, they helpfully held a jar up with some sugar in to prove how bad the jar of apple purée was, and then told us very earnestly that instead we should home purée an apple to avoid all that sugar.

I’m allergic to peanuts and walnuts and my Mum didn’t give me nuts until I was a toddler. Advice when she was pregnant was to avoid nuts too. She’s convinced that this is why I have my allergies.

DS was weaned just before 6 months and he had peanut butter quickly, because I wanted to expose him to it as soon as we could. He has nuts when I’m not in the house now 😂😂

That must have been tough and be tough to expose him whilst sheltering yourself.

My kids have no allergies. Both were EBF for over a year and we followed the NHS guidelines 🤷‍♀️