Is it safe to feed babies foods containing gluten?

Babies who eat gluten by 4 months have a decreased risk of celiac disease, according to WebMD. Gluten is a protein found in grains like wheat, barley and rye.

Doctors used to advise mothers to keep wheat and other foods containing gluten away from babies until they were 6 months old, as WebMD explains. However, introducing a baby to gluten between 4 and 6 months of age, especially if the mother is still breastfeeding the infant, may help the child develop a tolerance to gluten that protects him from celiac disease later in life. Babies who have gluten introduced while still breastfeeding show a 52 percent decrease in the risk of developing celiac disease.