FAMP-IT
Food Allergy Management and Prevention
Support Tool for Infants and Toddlers
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For Newborns

Breastfeeding

What are the benefits of Breastfeeding for infants?

Human milk is rich in essential nutrients. Colostrum, the first milk secreted after giving birth, helps to protect the infant as it is rich in antibodies.

Additionally,

If you cannot or choose not to breastfeed, you should be supported and guided to find the best infant formulas. Reach out to your pediatrician or registered dietitian for guidance.

What are the current recommendations?

Early introduction of peanut may seem to contradict the WHO’s recommendations for exclusive breastfeeding through 6 months of age, yet the LEAP Trial indicated that the duration and frequency of breastfeeding were not influenced. When there is a lack of evidence with conflicting guidelines, shared medical decision-making between providers and families is essential. Healthcare providers should consider talking with the families they serve, as there will be flexibility in allergy prevention and maintenance.

Current Recommendations:

A delay in introducing common food allergens may increase the chance of food allergies. This may be especially seen in children with severe eczema or a previously diagnosed food allergy.

It is important to note- Just because the child has a food allergy does not mean mothers cannot breastfeed.

What should the mother’s diet be when breastfeeding?

Energy, protein, and other essential nutrients that make up breast milk come from the mother’s diet. It is important for women who are breastfeeding to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and maintain adequate hydration.

Maternal diet directly affects the nutritional composition of breast milk. Eliminating the child’s allergen from the maternal diet may be required. Allergen exposure can occur through breastfeeding as some proteins can be transferred through breastmilk to allergic infants. Preventing infants’ contact to environmental exposures may also be necessary.

Mothers are recommended to consume a variety of foods while pregnant and breastfeeding. No specific foods or allergens should be removed or restricted from their diet during pregnancy or lactation as a means of food allergy prevention in children. Previous recommendations say that allergens should be avoided during pregnancy and lactation, however these recommendations have been retracted.

Promoting good handwashing in your household is essential for the management of food allergies. Always wash hands before and after the following:


Just because a child has a food allergy does not mean the mother has to stop breastfeeding.

Dot phrases modified from PDF found at: https://famp-it.org/wp-content/uploads/Breastfeeding-Education-Pediatrician.pdf

Introducing Complimentary Foods

When is an infant ready for solid food, and what foods are developmentally appropriate?

An infant’s first foods should have a very smooth texture and not require chewing. For thicker foods, such as nut butters, it is best to thin them out with warm water or mix them into something smoother, such as applesauce. Some signs that a baby is ready to try solid foods are:

Some infants may show developmental signs of readiness before age 6 months but introducing complementary foods before age 4 months – or waiting until after 6 months – is not recommended.

Nutrition Guidance for Children During their First 12 Months of Life

The American Academy of Pediatrics states that: “There is no evidence that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods, including peanuts, eggs, and fish, beyond 4 to 6 months prevents atopic disease.”

Why is infant nutrition so important?

During an infant’s first year of life, infants should receive adequate amounts of essential nutrients because these foods are needed for healthy brain development and overall growth. Also, establishing healthy dietary patterns early in life can influence eating behaviors and overall health throughout the course of life.

Key Recommendation:

Between ages 0-4 months: Exclusive breastmilk and/or formula feeding

Between 4-6 months: When your child is ready, start to introduce complementary foods

Between 6-12 months: Introduce complementary foods no later than 6 months

How do know if my child is at high risk of developing a peanut allergy?

Recommendations: age-appropriate, peanut-containing foods should be introduced to the diet as early as age 4 to 6 months.

Establishing Healthy Dietary Patterns in an Infant’s First year of Life

Dietary Components to encourage:

Dietary Components to limit:

Dietary Components to Avoid:

Introducing your child to the 9 major allergens:

The 9 major potentially allergenic foods should be introduced as complementary foods. There is evidence that introducing peanut-containing foods in an infant’s first year of life can reduce the risk that s/he will develop a peanut allergy There is no evidence that delaying introduction of allergenic foods beyond 6 months prevents food allergy.

  1. Dairy
  2. Egg
  3. Peanuts
  4. Tree Nutrs
  5. Soy
  6. Wheat
  7. Fish
  8. Shellfish
  9. Sesame

Dot phrases modified from PDF found at: https://famp-it.org/wp-content/uploads/aap-statement-FAMPIT_Nutrition-Education_less12mo.pdf

Early Food Introduction
Skincare and Eczema Management
IgE Mediated
Food Allergy
Non-IgE Mediated
Food Allergy

End-User License Agreement

End-User License Agreement

IMPORTANT – Read Carefully

1. General.

This EULA is a contract between The General Hospital Corporation, d/b/a Massachusetts General Hospital (“Hospital”), and you. This EULA governs your use of the Food Allergy Management and Prevention Support Tool for Infants and Toddlers (“ FAMP-IT”). If you are agreeing to this EULA on behalf of a company or other entity, you represent that you have the authority to agree to the terms and conditions of this EULA on behalf of such entity, and that such entity hereby agrees to be bound by these terms.  By accessing FAMP-IT, you are agreeing to this EULA.  If you do not agree to this EULA, MGH will not and does not license the Software Model to you and you must not access the Software Model.

As used herein, the term “you” or “your” means you, the company or other entity that you represent in this EULA, and any individual accessing this site or using the FAMP-IT pursuant to this EULA.

2. License to Use.

Subject to the terms of this EULA, Hospital grants to you (the “Licensee”), a royalty-free, non-exclusive, non-transferable, revocable license to access and use FAMP-IT for informational and/or educational purposes only (“Purpose”).

No right to sublicense or assign this EULA to is granted herein.

3. Limitations on Use and Acknowledgements.

FAMP-IT has not been reviewed or approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration or any other agency.  FAMP-IT must not be used to make a clinical diagnosis, provide clinical care, or replace or overrule the judgment of a licensed health care professional. FAMP-IT may be used only for information and educational purposes.

You may not (i) copy or distribute FAMP-IT in any form beyond your premises, (ii) rent, lend, lease, sell, resell, or otherwise transfer for value, your access to FAMP-IT account, (iii) reverse engineer, decompile, or disassemble FAMP-IT, or (iv) remove or obscure any copyright notices.

You agree that this curriculum shall not be used as the basis of a commercial product or service and that this curriculum shall not be rewritten in another computer language or otherwise adapted to circumvent the need for obtaining a license from Hospital for use of FAMP-IT.  You are responsible for securing any additional licenses you may need to use FAMP-IT.

4. No Other Rights.

This EULA does not grant you any rights to use the name, trademark, service mark, logo or other identifying characteristics of Hospital or any of its affiliates. All rights not expressly granted in this EULA are reserved by Hospital.

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TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HOSPITAL PROVIDES FAMP-IT AND CONTENT ON THE SITE “AS IS” AND WITH ALL FAULTS, ERRORS AND DEFECTS, AND NEITHER HOSPITAL NOR ANY OF ITS PERSONNEL NOR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ENSURING THAT ANY IMPLEMENTATION OF SOFTWARE OR SITE CONTENT WILL BE CLINICALLY SOUND, WITHOUT ERROR, UNINTERRUPTED OR OTHERWISE SUCCESSFUL. THE RIGHTS GRANTED IN THIS EULA ARE MADE AVAILABLE WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EITHER EXPRESSED OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, TITLE AND NON-INFRINGEMENT.

6. Limitation of Liability.

TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, HOSPITAL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE TO YOU OR INDEMNIFY YOU FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY DAMAGES RESULTING FROM LOSS OF USE OR LOST BUSINESS, REVENUE, PROFITS, DATA OR GOODWILL) ARISING IN CONNECTION WITH THIS EULA OR OTHERWISE, WHETHER IN AN ACTION IN CONTRACT, TORT, STRICT LIABILITY, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

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You agree, on behalf of the company or other entity that you represent, to defend, indemnify and hold harmless Hospital and its affiliates, trustees, officers, employees, staff members, agents or contractors from and against any claim, charge, demand, action or suit, whether in contract, tort, strict liability, negligence or otherwise, for any and all losses, costs, charges, claims, demands, fees, expenses or damages of any nature or kind arising out of, connected with or resulting from (i) the your use of FAMP-IT or (ii) your failure to comply with applicable laws and regulations, or (iii) your breach of any of the terms or conditions set forth in this EULA.

8. Governing Law.

The construction and performance of this EULA will be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without regard to conflicts of laws principles.

9. Additional Terms.

No waiver of any of the terms set forth herein shall be deemed a further and continuing waiver of such term or condition or any other term or condition.

If any of the terms or conditions contained herein is invalid or unenforceable under applicable law, the remaining provisions shall continue in full force and effect, and the invalid or unenforceable provision will be deemed superseded by a valid, enforceable provision that most closely matches the intent of the original provision.

All rights not expressly granted herein are hereby reserved.

10. Entire Agreement

This EULA sets forth all of the covenants, provisions, agreements, conditions, and understandings between the parties regarding the subject matter herein, and there are no covenants, promises, agreements, conditions, or understandings, either oral or written, between them other than those set forth herein.

Should you have any concerns regarding this EULA contact the Mass General Brigham Innovation Office. 

Revised October 25, 2021

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