1. True or False? Eggs should not be introduced until your child is one year old.
Incorrect! You can give your healthy child cooked eggs in age-appropriate texture, along with other complementary foods, from six months of age.
Correct! You can give your healthy child cooked eggs in age-appropriate texture, along with other complementary foods, from six months of age.
2. True or False? You can offer your child fish from 6 months old onwards.
Right! Fish is a good source of protein, important for growth. Oily fish such as tuna, mackerel or salmon are sources of DHA essential for brain and eye development. Avoid fish known to contain high amounts of mercury, such as king mackerel, tilefish, and swordfish.
Wrong! Fish is a good source of protein, important for growth. Oily fish such as tuna, mackerel or salmon are sources of DHA essential for brain and eye development. Avoid fish known to contain high amounts of mercury, such as king mackerel, tilefish, and swordfish.
3. True or False? Foods containing peanuts can be given to children at six months old onwards.
Correct! For healthy children, without previously diagnosed allergies, foods containing peanuts can be introduced at around six months of age, along with other complementary foods. The texture needs to be age-appropriate and given in very small amounts. The peanuts should be ground and not given whole. If your child has eczema or food allergy, their first taste of peanuts should be supervised by a healthcare professional. Check with your healthcare provider for advice for you and your child before introducing peanuts.
Incorrect! For healthy children, without previously diagnosed allergies, foods containing peanuts can be introduced at around six months of age, along with other complementary foods. The texture needs to be age-appropriate and given in very small amounts. The peanuts should be ground and not given whole. If your child has eczema or food allergy, their first taste of peanuts should be supervised by a healthcare professional. Check with your healthcare provider for advice for you and your child before introducing peanuts.
4. True or False? Giving your child foods that commonly cause allergies, such as those with eggs, fish, wheat, or peanuts, when you begin complementary feeding from six months of age can reduce the chance of him developing a food allergy.
Right! If your child has eczema, a family history of allergy, or any current food allergy, speak with your healthcare provider before introducing potential allergy- triggering foods. For healthy children, research indicates that, once your child is eating solids, including small amounts of these foods in his diet, one at a time, may decrease the risk of an allergy. It is thought that eating these foods early may help your child develop tolerance and therefore decrease the chances of allergy.
Wrong! If your child has eczema, a family history of allergy, or any current food allergy, speak with your healthcare provider before introducing potential allergy- triggering foods. For healthy children, research indicates that, once your child is eating solids, including small amounts of these foods in his diet, one at a time, may decrease the risk of an allergy. It is thought that eating these foods early may help your child develop tolerance and therefore decrease the chances of allergy.
5. True or False? If you’re breastfeeding, you should exclude foods known to cause allergies from your diet.
Incorrect! There is no need to restrict your diet while you’re breastfeeding. The Malaysian Allergy Prevention Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals for preventing allergies say that there is no need for feeding moms to follow an allergen-free diet.
Correct! There is no need to restrict your diet while you’re breastfeeding. The Malaysian Allergy Prevention Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals for preventing allergies say that there is no need for feeding moms to follow an allergen-free diet.
6. True or False? Foods containing gluten, which is found in wheat, barley, and rye, can be given to your child when you start complementary feeding (around six months of age).
Right! Current recommendations are to introduce gluten at around six months of age, when complementary foods are offered to your child. As with introducing any new food, offer your child gluten-containing foods in small amounts for his first few tastes. If after a few days your child has no signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction, you can then offer him another new food. Large amounts of foods containing gluten should be avoided during the first weeks after they are introduced, and throughout your child’s first year.
Wrong! Current recommendations are to introduce gluten at around six months of age, when complementary foods are offered to your child. As with introducing any new food, offer your child gluten-containing foods in small amounts for his first few tastes. If after a few days your child has no signs or symptoms of an allergic reaction, you can then offer him another new food. Large amounts of foods containing gluten should be avoided during the first weeks after they are introduced, and throughout your child’s first year.
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0-2
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References
Du Toit G et al. N Engl J Med 2015; 372(9):803-13.
Fewtrell M, et al. J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr. 2017; 64(1):119-132.
Greer FR, et al. Pediatrics. 2008; 121(1):183-91
lerodiakonou D, et al. JAMA. 2016; 316(11):1181-1192.
Togias A, et al.J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017; 139(1):29-44.
Malaysian Society of Allergy and Immunology. Malaysian Allergy Prevention Guidelines for Healthcare Professionals. 2014.
www.worldallergy.org (Accessed December 18, 2017)
Last revised: December, 2017