BABY
When Can a Baby Have Peanuts? The New Guidelines
Worried about your baby's allergies? Read these recommendations—they may surprise you!
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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BABY
Written by
Dr. Harvey Karp
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Food allergies can be a scary part of introducing solids to your baby. And, there is controversy around when to try out foods that are well known to provoke allergic responses like eggs, strawberries, and—the much-feared—peanut!
In fact, you may have heard that you should totally steer your child clear of peanuts (butter, crumbles, candy, etc.) for the first few years. That advice seems to make good sense: let your child’s intestinal protections get a bit stronger before an exposure to strong allergens. But, it is actually now recognised to be completely wrong!
The U.S. National Institute of Health (NIH) and the National Health Service (NHS) advises giving peanut-containing food to babies in the first year. Even more surprising…the higher risk your child has of allergy, the earlier the NIH recommends they try peanuts.
The NIH based its new guidelines on King’s College London’s landmark LEAP study (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy) which studied over 600 high-risk infants. Much to their surprise, the researchers found that an early introduction to peanut-containing foods significantly reduced peanut reactions in allergy-inclined babies.
Babies who have no allergies, eczema, or strong family history can try peanuts during the early introduction of solid foods. Just do not make peanut butter and jelly their first regular meal. Even low risk babies should not launch into gastronomy with peanuts as their first appetizer.
The NIH recommends babies with mild-to-moderate eczema have peanuts added to their diet at 6 months.
For children with ‘high risk’—because of eczema, egg allergy, or some other allergic issue—paediatricians now recommend exposing them to peanuts even earlier, at 4 to6 months!
But do not take our word for it! Every child is unique, so it is very important that your paediatrician be the one deciding if, when, and how to introduce high allergy foods. In fact, many infants are also referred to allergy specialists for screening lab tests—like a scratch test or blood work—to create the best, safest plan.
Growing out of a peanut allergy is not very common. In fact, only about 20% of babies outgrow peanut allergies.
To be clear, you should never crack a shell and hand a peanut over to a little baby—whole peanuts and even small chunks are a dangerous choking hazard. Inhaling a piece of peanut usually requires emergency anesthesia and removal! Even a spoonful of peanut butter can be risky because its thick, sticky consistency can make it hard to swallow.
The King’s College Hospital NHS recommends mixing 2 teaspoons of smooth (not chunky) peanut butter with 2 to 3 teaspoons of hot water to make a thin, baby-friendly goo…and then you can mix that with pureed fruits or veggies to thin it even more. Try out just a small spoonful, then watch your baby for 10 minutes for signs of a reaction. Peanut allergies are pretty quick to show up, but make sure to look out for the following signs of a peanut allergy.
If all goes well, you can try it again the next day.
Of course, every baby is different. Before introducing peanuts or peanut butter, be sure to ask your healthcare provider what is best for your baby.
Note: Also ask your healthcare provider if you should buy some liquid Benadryl to keep in your first aid kit. It can come in very handy in case of a sudden allergic reaction—like to a bee sting—at home and on trips.
Disclaimer: The information on our site is NOT medical advice for any specific person or condition. It is only meant as general information. If you have any medical questions and concerns about your child or yourself, please contact your health provider. Breastmilk is the best source of nutrition for babies. It is important that, in preparation for and during breastfeeding, mothers eat a healthy, balanced diet. Combined breast- and bottle-feeding in the first weeks of life may reduce the supply of a mother's breastmilk and reversing the decision not to breastfeed is difficult. If you do decide to use infant formula, you should follow instructions carefully.
