News

23rd March 2004

Weaning and allergy advice questioned

New research contradicts previous findings that weaning your baby onto solids before six months can cause allergies.

Currently, the Department of Health recommends that babies should be fed nothing but milk, either breast or bottle, up until six months of age, after which solids can be introduced into the diet.

This advice was issued after a study at the University of Surrey found that weaning your baby onto solids earlier than six months increased the risk of allergies three times.

However, a new study by a team from the University Children's Hospital in Munich, Germany and the Imperial College of Science and Technology has concluded that introducing solid food after six months does not reduce the risk of asthma, allergic reactions and eczema.

The original study, on which the DoH guidelines were based, looked at 257 premature babies in Hampshire and Surrey and the results showed that those babies introduced to four or more solid foods in their first 17 weeks had a three-fold risk of developing eczema.

However, the second study followed 642 children from Ashford, Kent from birth until they reached the age of five. They looked to see if weaning after six months provided any protection against developing asthma or eczema and they found infants who were fed solids late had no protective effect on the development of these allergies.

In light of their findings, the authors conclude that infant feeding guidelines aimed at preventing allergies may have to be revised.

Maureen Jenkins, allergy nurse consultant at charity Allergy UK said: "We advise women try to breast feed for six months before weaning, but understand this can be difficult.

"Mothers often introduce foods during this period because the child is hungry.

"We also advise that when women begin weaning, they introduce food that are least allergenic first, such as vegetables, pureed bananas and pears, and avoid cows milk, fish and egg until later."

Two allergy specialists, Dr Abbass Khakoo and Dr Gideon Lack at St Mary's Hospital, say further studies are needed before an authoritative statement can be issued.

Health Visitor Maggie Harrison says mothers should continue to follow the DoH advice and begin to wean their babies at six months until further recommendations are issued.

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