It is recommended that babies are breastfed for at least 6 months, and longer if mother and baby wish to continue.
If you are able to breastfeed, continue to breastfeed while you introduce solids.
Breastfeeding when mother has a food allergy
It is best if the mother talks with their allergy specialist about the risk of breastfeeding after the baby has eaten food the mother is allergic to.
Breastfeeding after the baby has eaten the food the mother is allergic to carries a very low risk to the mother. The main concern is skin contact reactions such as redness, itch or hives, rather than a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis).
If baby is eating food that the mother is allergic to, we recommend trying to breastfeed before the baby eats the food allergen. If this can’t be done, we suggest waiting as long as possible before breastfeeding. We also recommend:
- Wiping the baby’s face and hands after they have eaten the allergen
- If the mother has handled the food, she should wash her hands immediately afterwards.
Breastfeeding when baby has a food allergy
It is always best to speak with the baby’s allergy specialist if there are concerns about the mother eating food the breastfed baby is allergic to.
Research has shown that there is a very low risk of an allergic reaction in breastfed babies with food allergy to milk, egg, peanut and /or wheat if the mother eats the food.*
Breastfeeding mothers do not usually need to avoid eating or drinking the food their baby is allergic to unless the baby is showing signs of an allergic reaction after a breast feed, or they have been advised to by their doctor.
A breastfeeding mother may not be getting enough nutrition if foods are removed from her diet unnecessarily. We recommend mothers who are avoiding foods such as milk (dairy), wheat or multiple foods see a dietitian to make sure they are getting all the nutrition they need.
This advice can also be found on the Nip Allergies in the Bub website – Pregnancy, breastfeeding and infant feeding FAQ – prevent allergies.