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Does Breastfeeding Protect Toddlers from Allergies? |
 It is undisputed that breast milk is a super milk for babies. Healthy human milk is nationally complete food, which contains the right levels of proteins, fats and carbohydrates to meet your babies growth and developmental needs. These benefits of breast milk extend to what is know as a "protection factor", with research suggesting that breastfeeding is thought to protect your babies from the risk of asthma, allergies and food sensitivities. With allergies on the increase in the Western World, it makes sense that many mothers are now choosing to breastfeed exclusively and for a prolonged period, as an allergy prevention measure.
Breast milk as protection
Although there are effective treatments for allergies, there are no cures. Current research suggests that allergy prevention in infants is the optimal approach, to prevent the onset of allergies. This is particularly in the case where allergies already exist in one, or both of the parents. Although there is no isolated factor indentified as causing an allergy in your infant. The introduction of cow's milk and solid food before 4 months, has been identified as an increased risk. Where possible breastfeeding is recommended for at least the first 6 months of a babies life, to decrease the risk of infant allergies and food sensitivities developing in early childhood.
What about preventing asthma?
Breastfeeding as prevention for asthma is a controversial issue. Recent reports suggest breastfeeding does not prevent asthma in children, but can act as protection for your infant.
Breastfeeding and diet
Ensure that you do not restrict your diet during pregnancy, in a well-meaning attempt at preventing allergies in your baby. There is no evidence to suggest that removing common allergenic foods ( cow's milk, egg, fish, soy and peanuts) from your diet when breastfeeding reduces the chance of your infant developing allergies.
If your infant or toddler has been diagnosed with a food allergy, this is when a breastfeeding mother will need to avoid eating that food until the infant is weaned. This is to ensure the allergen in question does not cross over into the mother's breast milk. In the case of a restricted diet, it is important to consult your doctor or dietician for food alternatives to ensure you are meeting your daily nutritional requirements.
There is no reason why you are unable to continue breastfeeding if your child does develop a food allergy.
Nature's best
Put simply, despite all the money spent by manufacturers, no baby formula has yet been created that is better than an approximation of breast milk. Your own milk is uniquely matched for your baby, and adapts from one feed to the next to protect and meet your babies nutritional and growth needs.
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