Early Food Introduction in Infants
Early Food Introduction in Infants
Early food introduction among healthy, growing infants who are developing appropriately for their age is strongly advocated.
Indian culture has long thrived on indigenous dietary practices, which may be a contributing factor to the relatively lower prevalence of food allergies in the country. However, with the growing westernization of diets and lifestyle, the incidence of food allergies is rising in India.
Early food introduction refers to the practice of introducing allergenic foods to infants between the ages of 4 to 6 months. Research suggests that this can help reduce the risk of developing food allergies. Common allergenic foods that can be introduced include eggs, cow's milk, peanuts, tree nuts, wheat, sesame, and fish. The specific foods introduced can follow family customs, and there is no strict order recommended. A new food can be introduced every 3-5 days. Once introduced, it should be fed to the child at least once a week, in any tolerated amount.
Allergy testing is generally not necessary before introducing these foods, except in selected cases. It is advisable to consult an allergist to help guide the decision-making process.
