Q&A: Food allergies from breastfeeding

Peanut-free. Gluten-free. Egg and sugar and salt free. Allergies are every where these days, and who do they seem plague the most? Our children. For this reason alone, it’s only natural for us breastfeeding mothers to be concerned about the foods that we put in our own mouths and what we’re passing on to our kids.

My lunch for YEARS was a peanut butter and jam sandwich (yes, even as an adult I’d take it over any food, any day) but once I became pregnant, I suddenly wondered, “Is the peanut butter I’m eating going to be passed on to my baby while he’s breastfeeding? Will he become allergic – all because of my sandwich addiction?!”

Peanut allergy

There is evidence that the proteins that are contained within peanuts are then present in a mother’s breast milk 2 hours or so after one consumes a peanut product. There is also some suspicion that eating peanut butter and peanut products while breast feeding can cause an allergy for your baby, but there is really no conclusive or substantial evidence that supports this.

Depending on who you talk to, you can either eat peanuts from the get go or stay away from them entirely until your little one is weaned. Some doctors will suggest introducing peanut products to as early as one year, while others will suggest keeping the peanut butter out of your pantry until your child is 3. Way to make it confusing for us, huh?

Personally, I began offering my son my famous peanut butter and jelly sandwiches when he was 13 months old, and he has had no reaction or discomfort. The immediate families of both my husband and I do not suffer from any sort of peanut allergy. If your family does, then you may want to be just a little bit more cautious before offering your little one any peanut products. Remember to do everything gradually and at a time where your child can be observed by you for several hours.

Soy allergy

Another protein that can be problematic for your infant is the protein found in any soy product. As with my beloved peanut butter, there are some studies that suggest that soy may cause adverse allergic reactions to children who are breastfeeding, as again the soy proteins are transferred to the child’s underdeveloped system through your breast milk.

If you’re missing the tofu and need to get your fix, start out eating only small amounts of soy products in a day. Monitor your infant for any signs of pain, discomfort, or any physical changes (such as hives or a flushed face). No reaction? Up the ante and eat small amounts more every few days and continue to monitor your baby.

Milk allergy

The last item on the list, and perhaps the top allergy-inducer, is milk! Any sort of milk or milk product is most likely to cause a bad reaction in your child, and for a good reason. Contrary to what we may be taught, humans do not actually require any sort of milk product after infancy to sustain themselves. Not only do cow milk proteins themselves cause problems for many baby, the antibiotics and other nasty things injected into dairy cows don't agree with a little body either.

When at all possible, offer your child WATER ONLY (no, they do not need juice and they certainly do not need cow’s milk). This is the best way to prevent allergic reactions and allergy development.