[Excentrique]

Just read this article: http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/parenting...v-1226537159388

They are saying that delayed introduction of solids is not helping to prevent anaphylaxis, so they are about to change the recommendation for introduction of solids.

'But many now suspect that delayed weaning, a lack of vitamin D from sunlight and hyper-cleanliness could be to blame, through overstimulating children's allergic reaction to certain foods.
The National Health and Medical Research Council will soon release new guidelines for infant feeding, which will relax its current recommendation that babies be exclusively breastfed for six months.'

'Dr Mullins said the longstanding advice to avoid risky foods like peanut and egg until children are older had not prevented allergies.'

'The NHMRC's existing limit of six months mirrors that of the World Health Organisation, but clashes with advice from Australia's top allergy specialists.'


Thoughts?

This post has been edited by Excentrique: 15/12/2012, 12:45 PM

[Giltine]

It's all so confusing I'm surprised that anyone knows what to do any more. I've had three different doctors tell me three different things when it comes to DD. I have allergies to some very common foods, and one said start her on them from 4 months, one said 6 months, and one said 12 months! So I really have no idea.

And by the looks of it, the people who write these recommendations have no idea either!

[qak]

It sounds more and more like there is no one single link.

Certainly the number of kids with allergies is frightening these days. When I went to school allergies were pretty rare, there was a bit of asthma around. There was certainly not ever any rules about bringing any type of food to school.

[Excentrique]

Personally I do wonder if it has something to do with sterile living. The body doesn't have so many pathogens to fight, so it attacks the food instead.

[Lucretia Borgia]

Personally I do wonder if it has something to do with sterile living. The body doesn't have so many pathogens to fight, so it attacks the food instead.

Of all the theories floating around this is the one that interests me the most, and seems to have the most merit (from my completely unscientific background of course!)

[blackbird]

Maybe our food is just crappier than it has ever been before.

[caitiri]

I have heard one theory (of unknown scientific validity) that its more about the way food is produced then anything else for example the varieties of food that are the easiest to grow are also more allergen producing.

Could be utter nonsense I have no idea

[Betty_D]

It is so confusing. With our DS, we couldn't decide whether to go for 4 or 6 months, so we went bang in the middle and started at 5. The decision was easier to make as by that point he had started to show an interest in what we were eating.

Parents are just trying to do what's best for their children and these conflicting reports make it just that much harder. I also dislike the insinuation that these allergies are either caused or prevented by a parent's decision as to when to introduce solids.

[Smoo]

They ignored the follow up to that report after they found the correlation they actually found- kids with asthma and allergies wean later BECAUSE of the asthma/allergies not the other way around... I can't find that study now, will keep looking - of course that part of the study got no publicity at all

It's all contradictory anyway I started solids before 6 month because DS was interested in them, I am a big believer in go with what works for the child on this since I really don't think the doctors have a clue on this one

[MakeLoveNotBacon]

The National Health and Medical Research Council will soon release new guidelines for infant feeding, which will relax its current recommendation that babies be exclusively breastfed for six months.
The new draft guidelines state that weaning should commence at "around six months of age", giving parents more leeway to introduce solids at four or five months.
The NHMRC's existing limit of six months mirrors that of the World Health Organisation, but clashes with advice from Australia's top allergy specialists.

What an outrageously irresponsible and confusing report.

There is NO WAY NHMRC would recommend weaning (as in stopping breast milk) at 6 months which is how the article is worded.

From my readings, the NHMRC are NOT changing their guidelines. They recently reviewed the research and the guidelines will remain "around 6 mths" for the introduction of solids. That does not translate to four or five months as stated in the article.

Let's not forget The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy have sponsors from Baby food companies. Call me a cynic. http://www.allergy.org.au/about-ascia/sponsors