June 22, 2026 | Black & Kletz Allergy
Feeding an infant, toddler, and child in today’s ever-increasing complicated world has never been more challenging. To make it more difficult, food allergies and food sensitivities seem to be everywhere. It seems as though there is so much talk about food allergies/sensitivities now, whereas it was hardly discussed 30-40 years ago. Now, you seem to always hear about things like peanut allergies, tree nut allergies, shellfish allergies, fish allergies, wheat allergies, egg allergies, milk allergies, soy allergies, sesame allergies, alpha-gal (mammalian meat allergy), gluten sensitivity, lactose deficiency, low FODMAP diets, low histamine diets, and so on. What’s going on? What are the right foods to give your child? When should some foods be given? Below are some dietary guidelines for some common questions that parents have regarding what type of foods should be given to their children and when:
- Breast milk provides ideal nutrition for infants. Studies reveal that exclusive breast feeding at least until the age of 6 months of age significantly reduces the risk of developing food allergies in later life. When breast milk is not available, an iron-fortified infant formula is an alternative.
- Breast feeding can be continued as long as mutually desired by mother and child. If supplemented by infant formula, it can be discontinued at 12 months of age and whole milk can be started.
- All breastfed infants should receive a daily oral vitamin D supplement of 400 IU begin shortly after birth, unless they are also receiving adequate quantities of vitamin-fortified formula. Some infants also need iron supplementation. One should first check with the pediatrician before any supplementation.
- Solid foods may be started around 6 months of age, but breast milk or infant formula should be the main source of nutrition until 1 year of age.
- If the infant has severe eczema he or she may be at a higher risk for peanut and other food allergies. In those children, peanut products should be introduced at approximately 4 months of age, in order to reduce the chances of developing a peanut allergy. This can be done by mixing a small amount of peanut butter with bread milk or formula and feeding it with a spoon.
- For those infants presenting with eczema of a mild or moderate nature, incorporate peanut products into their diet at approximately 6 months of age.
- Potentially allergenic foods such as nut butters, eggs, shellfish, and wheat should be introduced at about 6 months of age, beginning with a very small quantity and increasing the quantity as tolerated.
- A diverse range of nutrient-dense foods in appropriate textures are recommended. Some of these foods include meat, poultry, and seafood, vegetables, fruits, full-fat yogurt and cheese, whole grains, legumes, and nut- or seed-containing foods.
- Highly processed foods such as processed meats, (e.g., hot dogs, bacon, deli meats, sugary drinks, and packaged sweets (e.g., cookies, cakes, pastries, candy bars). Note that processed meats are high in sodium and chemical preservatives.
- Avoid sugary foods such as fruit juices, sweetened teas, and sodas in children less than the age of 2 years old.
- Never give cow’s milk before 12 months of age since it strains immature infant kidneys and lacks the necessary iron.
- Never give honey before 12 months of age due to botulism risk.
- Never give unpasteurized juices before 12 months of age since they pose high risks of bacterial foodborne illness.
- Never give canned foods with high sodium before 12 months of age because it can overload an infant’s developing kidneys.
Signs that a child is developmentally ready to begin eating food:
- Sits up alone or with support
- Can control their head and neck
- Tries to grasp small objects, such as toys or food
- Brings objects to their mouth
- Opens their mouth when food is offered
- Moves food from the front to the back of their tongue in preparation to swallow
- Swallows food instead of pushing it back out onto their chin
A new food should be offered multiple times. It may take 8 to 10 exposures to a food before the child is ready to accept the food. Many children do not want to try new foods and prefer to eat only the foods that they enjoy the most. Some children will not eat vegetables. Other children have issues with the consistency of foods and will not eat anything that is soft or slimy. Each child is different and parents must be able to navigate all of the issues that may come along in order to make sure that their child gets the nourishment, vitamins, and variety that makes for a healthy and enjoyable diet.
The board certified allergists at Black & Kletz Allergy have been diagnosing and treating food allergies and food sensitivities for many years. We also help with dietary guidelines for our pediatric patients. We have offices in Washington, DC, McLean, VA (Tysons Corner, VA), and Manassas, VA. We have been serving the Washington, DC, Northern Virginia, and Maryland metropolitan area for over 50 years and treat both pediatric and adult and patients. All 3 offices at Black & Kletz Allergy offer on-site parking and the Washington, DC and McLean, VA offices are Metro accessible. There is a free shuttle that runs between our McLean, VA office and the Spring Hill metro station on the silver line. If you are concerned that your child may have food allergies or food sensitivities or any other type of allergy, asthma, or immunologic condition, please call us to schedule an appointment. You may also click Request an Appointment and we will reply within 24 hours by the next business day. At Black & Kletz Allergy, we strive to improve the quality of life in allergic individuals in a professional and compassionate environment.
