Delaying Solids and Cow's Milk May Not Prevent Kids' Allergies

Filed in archive Allergy: Research and Development , Asthma , Food Allergies , Living with Allergies on July 13, 2008

Photo courtesy of iStockphoto, Peter-John Freeman

Because allergies and asthma runs in the family, I am planning to exclusively breastfeed my second child until she's six months old, the age at which I plan to introduce solids. Such is the common advice to possibly delay, or even prevent, the onset of allergies and asthma in children. However, a new study indicates that postponing the introduction of solids and cow's milk may not prevent allergies at all.

Delaying the introduction of cow's milk may increase, rather than decrease, the risk that a child will develop allergies in the first 2 years of life, researchers from the Netherlands report.

Tests showed that delaying the introduction of cow's milk products beyond 9 months significantly increased the risk of eczema, a chronic skin condition characterized by dry patches of very itchy skin.

Delayed introduction of other food products for more than 7 months also markedly increased the risk of eczema as well as the risk of atopic dermatitis and recurrent Wheeze.

Obviously, I am now getting very confused.