Early Introduction Research
Learn the latest research and guidelines for feeding your baby
In the 1990s and early 2000s, parents were told that babies, and especially those considered at risk for food allergies, should avoid many allergy-causing foods until age one or even older. Thanks to new research, this advice has changed. In fact, studies show that introducing a variety of foods early is now recommended. Early typically means at six months but can be as early as four months.
Parents should always work with their pediatrician or allergist on when to introduce foods, especially if your baby shows signs of being at higher risk for food allergies, like having severe eczema.
FARE has invested nearly $3 million in game-changing discoveries that highlight the benefits of early introduction. New research is changing how foods are introduced to babies.
Some of the most important takeaways in just the last few years include…
Up to 80% of peanut allergies are preventable for high risk infants.
The Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) and LEAP-On studies showed that feeding peanut foods early to babies at high risk for peanut allergy reduced their chances of developing a peanut allergy by 80 percent.
Early introduction may help lower the risk of certain food allergies.
For some children at higher risk for allergies to milk, peanut, egg, sesame, fish or wheat, the Enquiring About Tolerance (EAT) study indicates that introducing these foods early has the potential to lower the risk of developing these allergies, particularly egg.
A varied diet may help reduce the risk of developing a food allergy.
Studies suggest that feeding your baby a larger or more diverse number of foods or food groups might lower the risk of food allergy.
Updated guidelines on when and how to introduce foods to babies have changed how pediatricians advise new parents about early diet and allergy risk.
See how to introduce a wide variety of foods safely to infants
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Baby's First Bite
It's time for your baby's next adventure...their first bite! Watch these mom's as they embark on this new (sometimes messy) journey in raising their little ones.
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