For decades, parents were told to keep peanuts and other common allergens away from babies. Now, the science says the opposite — and it’s making a measurable difference.
A Henry Ford Health allergist-immunologist says the old approach of restricting allergenic foods early in a baby’s life was unknowingly making the problem worse. Between 2005 and 2015, the prevalence of peanut allergies doubled.
The turning point came in 2015, when the LEAP study (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) was published in the New England Journal of Medicine.
“The LEAP study showed that early introduction decreases the chance of peanut allergy by 80%,” said Dr. Amy Eapen, an allergist-immunologist at Henry Ford Health.
The guidelines changed after that.
The current recommendation calls for introducing peanuts and other allergens earlier than most parents might expect.
“Around 4 to 6 months of age, after infants have started solids, they should introduce peanut and other food allergens and keep it in their diet at least 3 times a week,” Eapen said.
And it’s not just peanuts. Parents are encouraged to introduce a wide range of common allergens early, including:
- Eggs
- Fish
- Milk
- Shellfish
- Soy
- Tree nuts
- Wheat
The newest research shows the approach is working.
“The rates of peanut allergy and other food allergies are about 30% lower after the introduction of these new guidelines compared to prior,” Eapen said. “It’s working.”
Early introduction hasn’t eliminated food allergies entirely; some children will still develop them. The goal is to reduce the chances, not guarantee immunity.
Parents of children at higher risk, including those with a family history of allergies or with eczema, should talk with their pediatrician about when and how to introduce these foods.