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

Breastfeeding

Why is breastfeeding good for your baby?

Human milk has a lot of important nutrients. Colostrum, the first milk that comes out after giving birth, helps to protect your baby, as it is rich in antibodies. This can help build their immune system.

Additionally, breastmilk also:

If you cannot or choose not to breastfeed, support is available to help you find the best infant formulas. Reach out to your healthcare team for guidance.

What should the mother’s diet be when breastfeeding?

Energy, protein, and other essential nutrients that make up breast milk come from what the mother eats. It is important for women who are breastfeeding to eat a healthy, well-balanced diet and stay hydrated.

It’s best if mothers can eat a variety of foods while pregnant and breastfeeding. If mom is not allergic to any foods, then keeping the common food allergens in the diet is great.

Good handwashing habits are important for managing 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

Additional Resources

Use the QR code below or click on the hyperlink to watch a video, Preventing Food Allergies — What You and Your Family Can Do in the First Several Months, with simple tips on what you can do in the early months of your baby’s life to help prevent food allergies.

vimeopro.com/user22732304/preventing-food-allergies

QR code for video

Visit fampitfamily.org for detailed resources on Early Introduction, Food Allergy Management, and more.

Introducing Complementary Foods

What are the current recommendations for complementary feeding and food allergens?

Waiting to introduce common food allergens to your child may increase the chance of food allergies, especially if they have eczema or a previously diagnosed food allergy.

The common food allergens are:

Begin complementary feeding (giving solids while breastmilk or infant formula are still the main food source) around 6 months, and as early as 4 months to 6 months, if your child is developmentally ready.

The common food allergens should be introduced at the same time as complementary foods.

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

Healthy Dietary Patterns in Your Baby’s First Year of Life

Give:

Limit:

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

WIC for Clinicians

What is WIC?

WIC, or the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children is a federal assistance program that serves low-income pregnant, postpartum, and breastfeeding women, infants, and children up to age 5. WIC provides these women, infants, and children with access to nutritious foods, information on healthy eating habits that include breastfeeding promotion and support, and referrals to health care.

wic

Who qualifies for WIC?

In order to qualify for WIC, potential applicants must meet categorical, residential, income and nutrition risk requirements.

  • Categorical Requirement:
    • Pregnant women
    • Breastfeeding women
    • Non-breastfeeding postpartum women
    • Infants
    • Toddlers and children up to age 5
  •  Residential Requirement:
    • Applicants must live in the state in which they apply.
    • Applicants residing in areas where WIC is administered by an Indian Tribal Organizations (ITO) must meet residency requirements enacted by the ITO.
  • Income Requirement:
    • Applicants must be at or below an income level standardized by the state agency OR
    • Applicants may be determined automatically income eligible based on participation in certain financial assistance programs such as:
      • SNAP
      • Medicaid
      • Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
  • Nutrition Risk Requirement:
    • “Nutrition risk” means that an individual has medical based or dietary based conditions (i.e., anemia, underweight, poor pregnancy outcome).
    • Applicants must be seen by a healthcare clinician to determine whether the individual is at nutrition risk. This can be done by the applicant’s physician or in the WIC clinic at no cost to the applicant.

Applicants can also utilize the WIC Prescreening Tool to help determine if they are likely to be eligible for WIC benefits. If they are likely to be eligible, the web-based prescreening tool will provide applicants with state-specific information as well as a printable summary of their responses.

WIC: Spreading awareness

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The American Academy of Pediatricians (AAP) suggests that pediatricians provide information about the nutritional and educational benefits of WIC to potentially eligible patients and families while also working collaboratively with local WIC agencies to ensure the most effective treatments and dietary guidance for patients. The AAP also recommends that pediatricians work with state and local WIC agencies to maximize efforts to promote, support, and manage breastfeeding methods for infants. Following breastfeeding guidelines goes hand in hand with the early introduction of common allergens, such as peanut. Pediatricians can help increase awareness about the benefits and resources provided by WIC by sharing information about WIC to eligible patients and families.
For more information on WIC, please visit: https://www.fns.usda.gov/wic

References:

WIC Eligibility Requirements. USDA. (2020, June 19). 

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2001, November 1). WIC Program. American Academy of Pediatrics.

U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025. 9th Edition. December 2020. Available at DietaryGuidelines.gov. 

© 2026 MassGeneral Hospital for Children Food Allergy Center. All rights reserved.