Breastfeeding and Allergy?

Hoosier Kitty · #1 August 3rd, 2009, 07:46 PM

I had interesting convo with my friend. She said she noticed women who breastfeed for up to 2 years or more... their children develop allergy to food or tend to be more picky about food when they get older. Is that true????

downunderchick · #2 August 3rd, 2009, 10:19 PM

Hmm Im not sure, ive read things that say otherwise, but theni guess it depends on the breastfeeding? does she mean exclsivly breastfeeding for 2 years? Then maybe as at 2 i would have thought kids were at the age of trying so many new foods and they arent getting the experience till later, i can see them possibly being picky but not necissarily get an allergy. Apparently many cases are diagnosed as allergies when in fact thay are tolerances. Anyway, thats just my opinion, Im not really sure as Im not medically trained or anything. I know I will be b/feeding as I believe thats best for my baby, maybe not for 2 years though

lttle_one · #3 August 4th, 2009, 06:34 AM

It's actually opposite as far as allergies. As far as being picky, I believe that has to do both with the baby's personality and how many foods are offered at a youn age. How many people does she know that BF over 2 years? I'm sure not enough to be making these assumptions. I tend to trust scientific research over "people who know people"

Celry · #4 August 4th, 2009, 07:55 AM

It is the opposite. If your child is prone to an allergy for a certain food, they can be aggravated by the mother eating that, but in general breastfeeding helps with allergies.

BabyBird · #5 August 4th, 2009, 08:51 AM

I agree on the allergy thing being better with BF babies...and it is all about what they are exposed to as well. If they don't get anything else besides BM they might tend to be more picky and if mom doesn't eat a variety of foods when exclusively BF the baby doesn't get exposed either so when they are older and do eat different foods it may seem that they are developing allergies when in fact they were there the whole time but were just never exposed to it, kwim?