Complementary Feeding in High-Risk Infants

For decades, parents were told to delay allergens: "No peanuts until age 3." We now know this was wrong. In fact, delaying allergens may have contributed to the rise in food allergies.

The landmark LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) study completely changed the guidelines. We now know that the immune system needs to "learn" that food is safe early on.

Who is "High Risk"?

An infant is considered high-risk for food allergies if they have:

• Severe Eczema: This is the strongest predictor. A broken skin barrier sensitizes the immune system.
• Egg Allergy: Or other existing food allergies.
• Family History: Immediate family members with asthma, eczema, or allergies.

The New Protocol: Early Introduction

For high-risk infants, pediatricians now recommend introducing allergenic foods (like peanut butter) as early as 4 to 6 months of age.

How to Do It Safely

1. Check with your Doctor: If your baby has severe eczema, get a skin prick test first to ensure they aren't already allergic.
2. Start Healthy: Only introduce new foods when the baby is well (no fever or cold).
3. Morning Feeds: Give the new allergen in the morning so you can watch for reactions (hives, vomiting) throughout the day.
4. Consistency: Once introduced safely, keep it in the diet. Giving peanut butter once and then stopping for months can actually trigger an allergy.