The AAP on allergies
Babies may be at risk for developing allergies if there is a history of allergy in any of the parents or siblings. To help decrease your baby’s risk, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for at least four months.
If you choose to formula-feed, the AAP now reports that the use of certain iron-fortified infant formulas with hydrolyzed proteins (proteins broken down into smaller pieces), rather than intact cow’s milk protein formulas, may help delay or prevent the development of allergic skin conditions in early childhood. If your baby has already shown signs of cow’s milk allergy, only specialty formulas created for this purpose should be used.