Benefit of introducing food prior to five months....

[Gingerspice]

I don't think this was discussed when it was published? but I was discussing with a friend about them starting their son on solids, and they had spoken about this article, which they then later sent the link through so I could take a look.

I thought some people might find it of interest:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/...ridge-reach-months-likely-develop-asthma.html

 

[freckleonear]

Very interesting, thanks. I've had a read through the published study and there were a few points that particularly interested me.

The time window for the first exposure is conspicuously narrow in Finland for some of the supplementary foods introduced in infancy, e.g. rye and oats. This reflects that most Finnish parents comply in this respect closely with the national recommendations on infant feeding conveyed by the staff at the well-baby clinics. The narrow age range would make the analyses less sensitive for detecting any risk or protective effects of early exposure to various foods in relation to asthma or allergic rhinitis.

S M Virtanen et al.

This study was conducted among a very specific group of children who have inherited a high risk of diabetes. We know there is a link between diabetes and allergic conditions such as asthma so more research is needed before we can be sure whether the results would be the same in a more general population.

Dr E Vickers

Also, parents who do wean before 6 months are more likely to use oat cereal as it doesn't contain gluten. Certainly oats are known to have immunological benefits, but I wonder if introducing gluten even later than 6 months would similarly reduce the risk of asthma?

 

[naganta]

I am still EBF my son, and will for the next 2 weeks until he turns 6 months. He has had a taste of banana, and a lick of some melon.