I have eczema- please clarify the rules on weaning my baby for me!

[Cookethenook]

DS is 5 months so we're thinking about starting to wean him onto solid food.

I have suffered from eczema since childhood, but it's caused by environmental factors (dust and chemicals like SLS) rather than food. DS2 has no signs of any allergies thus far. With DS1, i just weaned at 4.5 months (as per the advice back then) and thought nothing of it. He's absolutely fine and doesn't suffer from any allergies. We didn't withhold nuts, eggs, dairy ect either.

I'm confused about the advice regarding allergies in parents and weaning. I'm also concerned as we're vegetarian, so a lot of the things you're told to avoid until they're older are brilliant sources of protein, iron and b vits. Advice please!

[scissy]

I have allergies so asked the HV about this, apparently there's no real consensus as the research is inconclusive. She told me to follow the NHS weaning guidelines (wait until 6 months etc) but when giving a food that's potentially allergenic for the first time, do it at breakfast/lunchtime so that if there is a reaction you'll see it. So not that helpful!

[Cookethenook]

It's very confusing. I've just read pages and pages of articles from credible sources all saying very different things!

[gretagrape]

We were told that because we both have eczema we should give our son the same food, one at a time, for 3 days in a row because it gives you a chance to see if there is any reaction/allergy.

[CornishYarg]

I suffer from eczema too. We weaned DS at 6 months and I waited a couple of days after I gave any foods for the first time that are typical allergens such as dairy, gluten, eggs etc. But I didn't bother waiting after every single new food. I figured the risk of an allergy to most fruit and vegetables, for example, was really low and waiting a couple of days after every new food would mean it would be ages till DS was eating a good range of food and could share our food.

The only food item he reacted to was peanut butter which I gave when he was about 7 months. The reaction was almost immediate and pretty scary. I've since read advice that if there's a history of allergies, it's worth holding off on peanuts for a while although that advice isn't universally agreed on. But I think if I had to make the choice again, I'd wait longer till offering peanut butter.