What's The Latest On Introducing Gluten Before 6 Months?

[kjoe58]

Hi,

Does anyone know the latest research on introducing gluten to babies born to a family with celiac disease? A year or more ago I read (on the celiac listserv, which I'm not on anymore) that it's best to feed gluten to babies before they're 6 months old in order to prevent celiac disease or lessen the chance of them getting it. My daughter, Becky, is starting to feed her 5 1/2 month old son solids and wants to do what's best. My mother and I and another daughter have celiac disease, Becky doesn't have it. Ethan is exclusively breast-fed and is very healthy. We realize he is receiving gluten through her breast milk, but I know I read something about giving it early.

[fullofhope]

I heard on public radio about a year ago that babies shouldn't eat gluten until after a year to decrease the chances of triggering celiac.

[Rikki Tikki]

I agree, wait as long as possible before giving anything with gluten in it. It seems to me I have read that also.

Just to give you some information, the one child I breast-fed and didn't introduce solids until 6 months is the one that has tested positive for celiac. The other 2 have not so far

[KayJay]

Our GI said no Gluten for the first year! So that is what we are going with. There is research supporting both theories but I don't think anyone knows for sure.

That being said Maddie is only 3 weeks away from turning one and I am so scared to give her gluten. She has never had it before and is doing so well without it. I know she will have to try it someday because really that will be the only way to tell if she got my genes. But it is such a hard decision to make.

[eKatherine]

Our GI said no Gluten for the first year! So that is what we are going with. There is research supporting both theories but I don't think anyone knows for sure.

That being said Maddie is only 3 weeks away from turning one and I am so scared to give her gluten. She has never had it before and is doing so well without it. I know she will have to try it someday because really that will be the only way to tell if she got my genes. But it is such a hard decision to make.

You could try enterolab, it will give you more information than a gluten challenge.

[kjoe58]

Our GI said no Gluten for the first year! So that is what we are going with. There is research supporting both theories but I don't think anyone knows for sure.

That being said Maddie is only 3 weeks away from turning one and I am so scared to give her gluten. She has never had it before and is doing so well without it. I know she will have to try it someday because really that will be the only way to tell if she got my genes. But it is such a hard decision to make.

Thanks for your reply. I guess I still don't understand though. Isn't the baby already getting gluten in breast milk?

[kjoe58]

I found the study that recommends giving gluten between 4 & 6 months of age. Here's the link, or it can be found on celiac.com, then 'Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance Research', then 'Celiac Disease Autoimmunity Linked to Timing of Gluten Introduction in Infants'. Another one to check out is 'Breast Feeding Longer Could Prevent Celiac Disease'

https://www.celiac.com/st_prod.html?p_prodi...-41106023224.02

[jaimek]

I am currently 4 months pregnant and I plan on breast feeding as long as possible. I asked my Gastro doctor (who's wife has Celiac and he specializes in it) when to introduce solids, including gluten. This was his response:

Recent evidence suggests that breast feeding may lower the risk, so consider it. Reports vary as to the best timing of introducing gluten into the baby's diet. I recommend not before 6 months, and not later than 9 months.

So, I am going to follow his instructions. I just hope that my baby doesn't get my genes and gets my husband's instead

[AndreaB]

This is something I'm struggling with too. I found out about my allergy to gluten (see sig) and then about my intolerance to gluten because of my infant son (8 months old). I just bought baby oatmeal to give him. I'll probably wait another week so I can introduce one more fruit before he tries the oatmeal. I just started him on solids when he was 7 months old. He reacted with eczema to gluten and soy so I'm expecting him to have a problem with the oatmeal. I've had the rest of the family tested through enterolab and need to get him tested, hopefully sooner rather than later.

[KayJay]

Thanks for your reply. I guess I still don't understand though. Isn't the baby already getting gluten in breast milk?

Oh I forgot to mention that I am gluten-free too because I have Celiac.

I don't know if anyone really knows the answer of when to introduce gluten.