Early complementary feeding may reduce risk of allergies in
children Published Online: November 26, 2012 Even though the
timing of infant feeding has proven to be important in
preventing a number of childhood diseases and for optimal
growth, its role in the prevention of childhood allergies is
inconclusive. Despite this insufficient evidence, expert bodies,
including the American Academy of Pediatrics, the European
Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and
Nutrition, and the Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and
Allergy, all recommend that for the prevention of allergic
diseases, the child should be exclusively breastfed for the
first 4-6 months of life, thereafter complementary foods can be
introduced. In recent times several studies have examined
whether these recommendations are optimal and are supported by
strong scientific evidence. The findings from the majority of
these studies have largely indicated that delaying the
introduction of complementary foods up to 4 to 6 months seems no