If you have allergies or asthma, your child is more likely to develop a food allergy.

The Mayo Clinic offers advice on preventing the development of food allergies in your children:

• Avoid peanuts during pregnancy and while nursing, especially if you have a family history of allergies.


• Give your child only breast milk for the first six months, if possible. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for your infant.


• Wait until your child is six months old to introduce solid foods.


• Wait at least one year to introduce cow's milk.


• Wait until age two to introduce eggs.


• Wait until age three to introduce nuts and seafood.


• Introduce all new foods gradually and one at a time.


• Give your child cooked or homogenized foods; many foods are less likely to cause an allergic reaction after being cooked.

If you have a child with a food allergy, see Managing Food Allergies in Children for more information.