The Timing of Infant Food Introduction in Families With a History of Atopy

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2015 Jul;54(8):745-51. doi: 10.1177/0009922815584927. Epub 2015 May 14.

Abstract

Objective: To describe the timing of introduction and type of food introduced to infants with a family history of atopy.

Methods: We conducted a secondary analysis of foods introduced each month to an interventional birth cohort of 149 infants at risk for atopy.

Results: Seven percent of infants received solid food prior to 4 months of age; 13% after 6 months of age. Hyperallergenic foods were introduced on average in the following order: wheat (8.7 months); eggs (11.2 months); soy (13.0 months); fish (13.4 months); peanut (20.2 months); tree nuts (21.8 months); and other seafood (21.8 months). Asian race (odds ratio 3.94; 95% CI 1.14-13.58) and maternal history of food allergy (odds ratio 3.86; 95% CI 1.29-11.56) were associated with late food introduction.

Conclusion: Variation in timing of food introduction may reflect cultural preferences and/or previous experience with food allergy, as well as the ambiguous state of current recommendations.

Keywords: Allergy; Allergy Prevention; Cultural background; Nutrition; Parenting.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Breast Feeding / statistics & numerical data
  • Child, Preschool
  • Cohort Studies
  • Diet / methods*
  • Diet / statistics & numerical data*
  • Female
  • Food Hypersensitivity / epidemiology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant Food / statistics & numerical data*
  • Interviews as Topic
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Male
  • Odds Ratio