Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers have recently been warned by the government to avoid eating peanuts if there is a history of allergies in the family. This is the latest evidence of a growing trend of allergic conditions in children. Figures from the Eczema Society and the National Asthma Campaign claim that as many as 1 in 4 children under eight now suffers from eczema.

Genetics certainly plays a part; if both parents suffer from allergies, such as eczema, hay fever or migraine, then the chances of their child being allergic are as high as 60%.

Another reason for this escalation is early exposure to solids. Babies are generally still being introduced to food too early. A survey in 1992 revealed that 16 per cent of infants had received solids by the age of eight weeks and over half by the age of three months. Government guidelines now advise us not to introduce solid food to an infant before four months. Below this age a baby's body systems are not developed sufficiently to cope with food introduction, and early exposure is associated with a higher risk of allergies.

Any time between five and six months is a good time to start weaning your baby. If there is a history of allergies in the family, then the closer to six months the better. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months has been found to provide the best protection.

Start with fruit and vegetable purees (preferably organic), introducing a new food every two to three days, so that you can notice any reaction that your baby may have. Keeping a food diary is an ideal way to keep track of foods being introduced, and is also a lovely memento to keep. If a food can be given raw, then give it raw, for example, mashed banana, avocado, paw paw or very ripe pear. Raw foods of this nature are a wonderful source of vitamins, minerals, water, enzymes and fibre.

Here is a useful guide to food introduction with allergy avoidance in mind.

Avoiding allergies

6-9 months

Fresh vegetable purees (except the nightshade family: potato, tomato, aubergine, peppers)
Fresh fruit purees (except citrus and strawberries)
Dried fruit purees (unsulphured)
Gluten-free grain purees (brown rice, millet, quinoa, and buckwheat)
Beans and pulse purees
Organic poultry, eat and fish* purees

9-12 months

Gluten grains (oats, rye, barley) except wheat
Corn
Nightshade family (potato, tomato, aubergine, peppers)
Ground nuts and seeds*
Soya products*

2-24 months

Wheat (bread, pasta, flour)
Dairy products
Citrus fruit
Whole eggs*

24+ months

Shellfish*
Strawberries

5+ years

Whole peanuts*

*These foods are the most likely ones to cause a Classical Type I allergic reaction

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