For years, it was recommended that parents delay introducing peanuts to babies in case it led to an allergic reaction. But food allergy researchers have found new evidences that challenge this long-held belief. The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) issued important new updates to the guidelines on how and when to introduce peanuts to babies.
When to introduce?
Here is a summary of when it’s ok to start offering peanut products to your baby. :
- Research found that you can prevent peanut allergy by introducing peanut-containing products early. This means doing it when babies are 6 months old (instead of waiting until 1 or 2 years old, which was previously recommended).
- Introduce peanut-containing products only after your baby is already tolerating a few other foods. (For example, if the child can already eat a vegetable, a fruit, and meat, or cereal). You should wait 2-3 days between giving your baby any new foods. This is so you can pick up on signs of an allergic reaction (such as a new rash, diarrhea, or vomiting).
- Parents should always check with their child’s pediatrician before introducing peanut-containing foods.
- Whole peanuts are not safe for children under age 4. They can cause choking.
Special situations
Read below to see which situation applies to your baby. This will help you determine when to introduce peanut-containing foods to your baby:
- Infants who have severe eczema, egg allergy, or both are considered at high risk for developing a peanut allergy. Talk to your pediatrician; they may want to order allergy testing for your baby before you give any peanut-containing foods. With the pediatrician’s ok, it’s usually recommended that these babies have peanut-containing foods after they are tolerating a few other foods (usually around 6 months of age).
- Babies with mild or moderate eczema should have peanut-containing foods introduced when they are 6 months of age and after tolerating a few other solid foods.
- Babies who do not have eczema or any food allergies can have peanut-containing foods at any age, as long as they are at least 6 months of age and tolerating a few other solid foods.
Check out our supplemental article called “Starting Your Baby on Solid Foods: What to Start and How to Do It” for tips on how to introduce peanut-containing products to your little one!
If you have questions about any food allergy or would like help developing a food plan for your baby, give us a call at (781) 608-8397 or email us here.