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 🤷‍♀️

Dd's are 13 and 10 so were in the 6 months or nothing times. No peanut products etc. I'd read some early studies and discussed with a forward thinking paediatrician that I bet in 10 - 15 years time they are advising differently. Seems to be about on course

I know a child (now 3) who’s allergic to a plethora of things - peanuts, dairy, soy, and sesame, and some others. His parents weaned him starting with peanut butter at 4 months because someone who goes to their church sent them a link to the study about this.

I have also known this to be the case for years but have no background or specialist knowledge in the area; I thought it was general knowledge to be honest! The HV told me this when I was weaning DC1 who is 9.

Its not a guarantee, it merely lowers the risk. Though anecdotally the child I weaned at 6 months had a whole bunch of allergies (eventually outgrown, hopefully same will happen with the child you know with the dairy and soy allergies at least) and the child I weaned at 4 months didn't. But that's just anecdata.

YANBU thats what I read too but in baby groups they all go berserk if you give any food a day before 6 months old.
I wouldn't give anything before 4 months unless for some reason a Dr advised me to but they act like even a day before 6 months is child abuse

I heard about a study showing that parents who introduced peanut as a food and who used nappy cream with peanut oil (arachis oil) in it had avoided peanut allergy by making sure that the baby’s immune system recognised it as a food before it was put on the skin and possibly on to broken skin, as an ingredient in nappy cream. Their theory was to give it as a one off dose on a very early teaspoon. So I did it, close by the hospital in case of a reaction. The baby didn’t have a reaction and has never had a peanut allergy.

I have absolutely no scientific proof that this is safe or will work for everyone, we have other allergies but no peanut allergies in the family. I just thought it was a sensible sounding theory since peanuts as food have been around for millennia but peanuts as nappy cream ingredient are very recent in human history.

Reading the history of it it's because when guidance was 4 months parents started weaning at 8 weeks which is actively harmful. Making it 6 months means most start between 4-6.

What I think is worse is not publicising widely the importance of iron rich foods as first foods. I didn't know with my son so he was 7 months before having meat and a very active boy who crawled at 6 months and walked at 8 months and ended up anaemic. I followed ll the guidelines from health visitor.

When my daughter was born one of her first foods was egg, then beans and legumes then shredded chicken and fish and we started when she sat unaided at 5 months.

Also I blame la keche league crazy breastfeeding fanatics who in the us try to pedal the IDE athat babies need no solids or water until a year.

Well.... you are spot on with your last sentence in your opening post. When NHS guidance says so, then mothers will do so.
NHS guidance was miles away from what you state at the time I had mine.
I think the important thing here is that parents do follow the guidance and do not start to experiment with the old my grandma did this.... lines.

Interesting, I feel the UK seems quite backward in a lot of things (or maybe its just MN). Where I am introduction of allergens are suggested early (around 6 months), this is when I introduced peanut butter and eggs and other items

I genuinely didn't realise the no solids until 6 months thing was a thing. That's just silly.. parents can be so odd with how they pick up mistruths as fact sometimes and then defend their uninformed position so vehemently..

The allergens, I do agree with OP but it was something I waited on but that was because my ex wife had severe nut and egg allergies, though all the kids had them at some point,.more than likely by accident and all were fine.

I'm 37 but I grew up abroad and I had never heard that peanut allergies were a thing growing up. It was never an issue in any school I ever went to. No "nut free" craziness anywhere and kids were fed allergens including peanuts from a young age with no issues.

My own daughter was given solids from about 4 months and I never avoided any allergens and she has zero allergies (she's 13 now).

Oh God, yes.

Some people on here were borderline hysterical about giving any solid foods before six months. Just really, really ridiculous - accusing people of being shit parents, not doing any "research," stupid analogies with car seats or putting Coke in a baby's bottle.

I gave small tastes of allergens from 4mo and neither of my kids have any allergies, so that's my anecdata....

I wanted to do BLW so nearer 6 months works for me - I did all the allergens in the first month though. Issue is so many people don’t introduce allergens for months and months - the guidance still was to introduce asap - this is why I like BLW they have everything from 6 months apart from honey. No fruit and veg for months on end, along with jars of mush with no nutritional value. Some still believe they need to do 3 days of the same veg to “test” for allergies.
Luckily we’re low risk of allergies here, none in the family, no skin issues, but if we did have a nut allergy I would do peanut butter mixed with some breastmilk from 4 months.
the other issue is, if you tell people 4 months, they think 2-3months is ok - when that can increase allergies and gut issues. If you say 6 months for the masses, then most will start between 4 and 6!

Oh yes, and the iron thing.

Breastfeeding groups are still full of people claiming the BM is a great source of iron.

No, it isn't. The iron in BM may be highly bioavailable, but there is hardly any of it in the first place!

It's a good idea to give iron (and zinc) enriched baby cereals and meat to babies as soon as you start giving food.

Regarding that, I think the age they start needing/ wanting solids varies between babies.
With ours, the doctor mentioned solids (cereals) could start been introduced if she was hungry a little after the 5th month. We made it almost to the 6th, just a few days short.
I think it makes more sense to observe the baby as they grow and talk to the professionals.
And for the professionals to have extensive training on the matter, so they know what to say and recommend.
But keep in touch with your paedetrician. There are quite a lot of things that can go wrong if the guidance is fully ignored.
And any parents that do not stick 100% to each letter of the official guidance because their baby grows a bit faster or slower in some parts or others, do not worry! Just do what is best for your little one. You will not even remember it by the time they are 5.

YANBU.

My midwife was even of the view that peanuts etc should be eaten during pregnancy..I asked her and she said very strongly this was not advise but her personal opinion and she could not advise it.

I regard allergens a bit like I view dust, dirt and germs.. a bit of exposure os good for the immune system

Maybe just stop engaging in these conversations? It’s not really got anything to do with you what another mum is feeding her baby, you seem overly invested.

Imo there is no benefit to giving a 4 month old food. It’s highly unlikely they can sit unaided so they need to be propped up and given near liquid food so it’s totally pointless Imo.

I don’t actually think most people wait until 12 months to introduce allergens anyway. Pretty much all weaning advice and recipes include things like eggs and peanut butter in 7-9 month recipes.

No, the LEAP study was actually about the benefits of giving allergens earlier than six months, as opposed to at six months. It showed that before six months (just before four months, actually) was better. So yes, there is a (small) benefit. It has nothing to do with whether the food is liquid or not.

Hmm. I had a baby in 2021 and while I followed the guidelines about starting solids at 6 months, I don't remember reading anything about delaying allergens until 12 months or reading about this on SM (and believe me I followed LOADS of weaning accounts).

My HV advised, and and also the general consensus amongst my 'mum network' was, to try allergens ASAP once you start weaning to prevent allergies forming, so that's what I did.

Anecdotal of course but one of my friends was too scared to try anything nut related until her baby was 9-10 months, he now has an allergy and she said her HV insinuated it was because of the delay, so she feels super guilty.

So while I agree with you that starting solids before 6 months is always flamed on here and elsewhere, I've never heard of the 12 month allergens thing, quite the opposite. Which is good if the earlier you introduce, the better!

DD is 4 now. She loves peanut butter! I just did a few tastes of foods when she was nearing 5 months I think. It was the knee jerk acting like any food the day before 6 months was terrible parenting that was really annoying

Well I'm glad you posted OP, as this is complete news to me. DS is nearly 2, and all official advice was definitely on waiting until 6 months to wean, I don't think he'd have been ready before development wise but it was definitely a hard and fast rule.

Does anyone know if early exposure reduces chances of developing allergies later? I remember happily eating Nutella in France on holidays in childhood, then in my teens suddenly being allergic. It was very disappointing!

They don't need to be sitting completely unaided to start solids, they need to be able to sit supported, hold their heads up and coordinate eyes and hands. Most babies are able to that between 4 and 6 months, often closer to the 4 than to the 6. And not near liquid food but mushed food, small 'tasting portions' on the end of a spoon.

That’s what is suggested in the UK too, so not backward at all. Yes the advice is to wean from 6 months, but it is also to start introducing allergens (in small amounts and building up, one at a time) from the beginning

Does anyone know if early exposure reduces chances of developing allergies later? I remember happily eating Nutella in France on holidays in childhood, then in my teens suddenly being allergic. It was very disappointing!

I think it’s regular exposure that helps. I have a dc (weaned later with no allergens as opposed to dc 2 weaned at 4 months with allergens who appears to be fine) who is allergic to tree nuts yet fine with peanuts so I make sure she keeps eating it regularly. Consultant said that allergy is not that well understood generally. It does freak me out that anyone can develop an allergy at any time. There was a study on treatment for peanut allergy I believe that was basically micro dosing it with increased amount’s and I think it had good results.

I get where you are coming from , I had my children in 90's and my children were weaned before 6 months and eating peanut butter (well sucking really) on toast before 6 months .