Celiac disease is a type of food allergy specific to gluten. Gluten is a protein found in wheat, barley, rye and some oats. Some people are sensitive to gluten-containing foods without having celiac disease, and there is a lot of confusing information on the web about gluten and gluten-free diets. The most influential factor in the risk for celiac disease is genetics/family history, not the timing of introduction of gluten-containing foods. The amounts of gluten and gliadin proteins found in breast milk of mothers who eat gluten-containing foods is insignificant, and does not cause celiac disease or gluten sensitivity in their infants. There is no strong consensus about whether longer duration of breastfeeding and introduction of gluten while the infant is still breastfeeding (i.e. before any formula is introduced) can reduce the risk of developing celiac disease. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for all mothers and babies until the baby is developmentally ready for solid foods, regardless of family history or whether the mother has diagnosed celiac disease or other allergies. Likewise, there is no specific recommendation for delaying or purposefully timing the introduction of gluten-containing foods for prevention of gluten sensitivity or Celiac disease.

You can always contact us to speak with our Registered Dietitian if you’d like to discuss your particular situation.

DISCLAIMER: We know when you surf the web for information, you can get conflicting results, and it’s not easy to know whether you are finding evidence-based, high quality recommendations. That’s part of our job here at Kodiak KINDNESS; we are here to support your informed decisions about infant feeding through your baby’s first year. We’ve done some background work, and to the best of our knowledge, this post reflects current best practices. However, the information contained in this post and any links contained herein is for your informational use only; it is not a substitute for professional advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Furthermore, Kodiak KINDNESS is not responsible for the accuracy of any information contained in this post or links contained herein; it is for you to review at your own risk and discuss, as needed, with your health care professional in order to make a plan that suits your individual circumstances.