Infants with a first-degree relative (parent or sibling) with celiac disease, and who carry an at-risk (DQ2 or DQ8) gene, have a higher risk of developing the autoimmune disorder triggered by gluten-containing foods. Many parents, especially those with a family history of celiac disease, are understandably nervous about introducing gluten into their child’s diet. They wonder whether there is an ideal time to introduce gluten if they can prevent celiac disease by never introducing gluten, and for those with celiac disease, how to incorporate gluten into their child’s diet without getting sick themselves.
Previously it was thought that there might be an ideal “window” to introduce gluten to infants that would decrease the risk of developing celiac disease. However, recent research shows that this is not the case. Additionally, while breastfeeding provides many benefits to an infant,…
