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Feeding Your Baby Wheat - Wheat, Gluten Allergy and Baby Food
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Allergies & Baby Food 
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Wheat Allergies and your Baby - When Can Your Baby Have Wheat?
On this page, we will discuss the issues of feeding your baby wheat and wheat products.
Wheat, along with dairy products, is one of the most confusing of the foods that we introduce to our babies. Since wheat is an allergen, we are often of the belief that it should be avoided in our baby's diet until after 12 months old - as other allergenic foods often are. This belief however, is not based on most current pediatric recommendations.
A few sources do say to not introduce wheat until after 1, 2 or even 3 years old. The majority of sources however indicate and agree that wheat may be introduced around the age of 8-9 months old (see below concerning earlier introduction). It is best to wait to introduce wheat until you are certain that your infant has no reactions to rice, oats or barley.
Most pediatricians will say that wheat should be introduced only after other grains have been introduced. This, in theory, will allow you find out if your baby has any sensitivity to grains. Following this method does not guarantee that your little one will not have a reaction to wheat - but - it will indicate if you need to watch for grain sensitivities. We agree that it’s not a perfect method or practice.
A typical infant will be exposed to gluten when he/she is introduced to barley or oat cereals between 4 and 7 months of age. Please keep in mind that oats do not naturally contain the same gluten what wheat does. Oats may become cross-contaminated with gluten during processing.
What age can I introduce Wheat to my Baby?
When your baby turns 8-9 months old, you may begin to introduce wheat products such as wheat germ, wheat toast, mixed grain cereal with wheat (aka farina) or whole grain breads which include wheat. PLEASE be sure to consult with your pediatrician if you are in doubt and unsure about wheat for your baby. This is very important as your infant may have a special situation and the general recommendations may not apply.
Please keep in mind that this recommendation is based on the fact that an infant has not shown any food sensitivities. It is also based on the assumption that neither parent has any wheat allergies/celiac disease or a family history of same.
What about Early Introduction of Wheat to Avoid a Wheat Allergy or Gluten Intolerance?
added 18 July 2009
In 2006, a study published in the journal Pediatrics, there was a conclusion that the "Timing of cereal-grain exposure was associated with wheat-allergy development. Delaying exposure until after 6 months was associated with an increase risk of wheat allergy, not a protective effect. In addition, these findings confirm the role of family history of allergy as a predictor of food allergy outcomes in children. Our results support continuing the current recommendations of first introducing cereal products between 4 and 6 months of age".
Of interest to us is that the study notes several reasons why this increased risk might be found. Noteworthy is that "Another possible explanation for why late introduction of cereal grains was associated with wheat allergy is that when wheat is introduced to an older child, it tends to be introduced in greater amounts.18 We can speculate that a large antigen load may have resulted in T-cell activation instead of anergy or tolerance."
Dr. Greer notes in an interview with Medscape Pediatrics that, "European recommendations came out the same month that ours did, that if you introduce wheat between 4 and 6 months of age, your baby will be less likely to have a gluten allergy.[1] We didn't go that far. This is one of the very few areas where ESPGHAN [European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition] policy differed from the AAP's January [2008] statement.
While there is some evidence that it is better to introduce baby to wheat between 4 and 7 months of age, we recommend that you thoroughly consult with your pediatrician about this!
Wheat and Gluten "Allergies" are not the same
Gluten in wheat is the most the common culprit when people have wheat "allergy" reactions. A gluten intolerance is NOT an allergy nor is it the same as a wheat allergy. Gluten is found in Rye, Oat, and Barley amongst other grains. Since gluten is a component of these grains, this is why you should be ok to introduce wheat to your baby if your infant has not had any reactions to the other gluten grains.
Celiac Disease or Gluten intolerance as it is also called, is entirely different from a wheat allergy. Those with a true wheat allergy may grow out of it.
What is the difference between a Gluten Intolerance (Celiac Disease) and a wheat allergy?
Here are a few things to look for to determine if your baby may be having a reaction to wheat
Sneezing
Hives
Other Rash
Wheezing - Difficult or labored breathing
Diarrhea
If you find your baby has a true wheat allergy or gluten intolerance, you will find it is very hard to avoid wheat as wheat comes in many, often hidden, forms. Read more about Egg Allergies, Soy Allergies and Dairy Allergies
Looking for the word GLUTEN on any product will help you discover where wheat is in the products you eat.
The vast majority of baked good recipes call for a wheat flour or a wheat pastry flour. You may use an alternative flour. Whole wheat flour makes baked goods more dense and helps some baked goods like breads rise. You will find the texture of baked good different if you are used to baking with all-purpose white flour or whole wheat flours. Visit our Wheat and Egg Substitutions for alternatives to wheat in baked baby foods and other homemade baby foods.
If you find that your baby is allergic to wheat protein and/or has a gluten intolerance, you may want to take note of the other names for wheat and wheat products that may be used as ingredients in many foods:
Finding the Wheat in Food Products |
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Resources & Learning More:
How to Prevent Wheat Intolerance in Your Baby
Allergy Prevention in Children - Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy
Wheat Allergy & Avoidance - Stanford Children's Hospital
InteliHealth - Wheat Allergy - Harvard Medical School Review
Headlines from our Baby Food Blog
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Wheat - Introducing Wheat and Avoiding a Wheat Allergy or Gluten Intolerance.
When to feed your baby wheat and wheat products is one confusing matter. The advice of pediatricians is varied and ranges greatly.
Solid Foods for Baby
Useful articles and charts to help you with the fun and folly of introducing baby to solid foods.
Please be sure to visit our Baby Food Articles Library for more great information about solid foods.
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