When Can I Introduce Peanut Butter?

[Sequoia]

We do a mix of mashed foods and BLS. DS, almost 10 months, likes a nibble of my toast with Promite when I have breakfast.

This morning I had peanut butter on toast and wondered when he could have some?

DH and I have no food allergies and DS has no known allergies.

Thanks!

[SamiH]

Personally I would wait a bit longer - after 12 months - I have an anaphylactic child, but my other one is ok.

With introducing peanut butter - do it slowly and watch for signs - put a little bit on his hand for a couple of days in a row first and see if there is any reaction, then a little bit on his cheek, then the corner of his mouth etc - i just don't think it is worth the risk only cos I have seen first hand how absolutely petrifying an adverse reaction is.

Good luck - not trying to scare you hun, just be careful with test patching first.

[AmandaJ]

I personally haven't given any of my boys peanut paste until they were at least two, both DH and I don't have any allergies.

hugs xoxo

[Mumma2three]

We don't have allergies but DD2 has egg and nut allergies. I gave her egg at one year (when recommended to start). She has never had nuts we found out from testing. I will wait to try until she's 5 (also recommended but mainly due to choking).
All will prob be fine, but I would wait until at least one.

[Snacks]

We waited til 12 months. Neither DH or I have allergies either (in fact, DH LIVES on peanut butter), but I thought I'd rather wait for that one. Even though the reality is that if they are severely allergic even breathing your peanut butter breath on him would probably cause a reaction. Even so, we decided to wait.

[Ambah]

I have heard you should wait until at least 2 yrs to give them peanut butter, and 5 years if there is a history of allergy.
I tried Aidyn just before he was 2, and he was allergic - not anaphylactic, but had he eaten a whole sanwich then he would have been.
ETA - bear in mind that if they are allergic they wont react on their first exposure (unless they have been exposed to it in the womb or through BM perhaps), it will be subsequent exposure where the allergic reactions will begin)

[SamiH]

I have heard you should wait until at least 2 yrs to give them peanut butter, and 5 years if there is a history of allergy.
I tried Aidyn just before he was 2, and he was allergic - not anaphylactic, but had he eaten a whole sanwich then he would have been.
ETA - bear in mind that if they are allergic they wont react on their first exposure (unless they have been exposed to it in the womb or through BM perhaps), it will be subsequent exposure where the allergic reactions will begin)

Yes I forgot to say my son had eaten peanut butter a few times previously - then hadnt for about a year saying he didnt like the smell and wouldnt touch it - then someone gave him a cadbury fruit and nut biscuit and oh boy, that was super scary ....

[Arimeh]

I still haven't given DS any peanut butter - and he's 2..

I was thinking... more like 4... lol

[Jennifer13]

I didn't give DD any nuts until after 2, but that was partly because we had a little boy over every week who was anaphylactic and I didn't want to risk it.

DD still hasn't really had peanut butter at nearly 3, but she has had nuts occasionally (mostly cashews). Seems to be fine. Again, I don't really bother with peanut butter 'cause she can't take it to preschool and I don't like to take the chance out and about with other kids.

[Glamourcide]

Neither DH nor I have any food allergies, and DD stole some of DH's peanut butter on toast when she was around 8 months... now she practically lives on the stuff. I know it was going against all the advice, but DH is convinced that restricting foods until they're older can lead to allergies (kind of like keeping them cooped up in the house prevents them from developing a good immune system, let them eat dirt from an early age and they'll never get sick) so he was really relaxed about it. I was a bit wary because my mum developed a peanut allergy in adulthood (I was six the first time she had a reaction, we used to eat satays all the time but they were banned in our house after that), but DD has never had any problems.
That being said, I probably just got really lucky, so I'd be more inclined to follow the advice the other ladies have given... but yeah, DD had peanut butter early on and it hasn't worried her in the least.

[Tannis]

DS had a taste of it at about 2 I think, but didn't like it. Then just the other day he had a bite of my peanut butter toast and liked it, but he has never asked for it again.

[Visitor8]

I think the reccomendation is 2.

The other thing with allergies is they can be fine then one day it will be a reaction. I saw this kid on a medical show who had to be air lifted, he had had peanut butter before, he was about 1.5 years old, he had a reaction and they took him to hospital and he seemed to get better then over night he got worse again.

I personally wouldn't risk it.

[StrawberryMumma]

You know I was just thinking, it's it funny how once (I'm sure even our mums did it) peanuts and peanut butter etc was probably considered normal baby food, but now we are all scared to let our kids/babies go near the stuff!! Which is fair enough too as anaphylaxis and even little allergic reactions can be scarey, but isn't it funny how things have changed!

I haven't given miss L any yet, but I thought soon.

[Visitor8]

my mum was talking about that the other day, how the first food she gave me was eggs and now you wouldn't dare do it.

I wonder what the statistics are for allergies and deaths in infants relating to food anaphylaxis for back then.

[Cricket]

Just came across this in an article in the paper today.

"Meanwhile, new evidence has even called into question the standard advice that young children be deprived of potentially allergenic foods for their first years, based on the belief that early exposure may lead to allergy later. A British study compared about 5,000 Jewish children in the U.K. who rarely ate peanuts as babies or toddlers and a similar number in Israel who started consuming peanut products early on. The British, peanut-avoiding children were 10 times more likely to develop peanut allergies, according to a paper last November in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology."

Food for thought.
My kids had peanut butter from about 11-12 months on, and we haven't had issues, but then, there is no family history of any type of food allergy either. You can talk to your GP and see what he/she recommends.

[Michelle71]

We have no family history of allergies. DS had peanut butter around 12 months but doesn't really like it and so it isn't a favourite. He has my nutella on toast though He also eats nuts (mostly cashews) which is against the current schools of thought. However the other viewpoint is that he has teeth / molars and can chew so it is ok to give them. He eats them under supervision.

There is significant debate about when to introduce potential allergens and there is no clear answer. The literature does not give anything definitive either. There are guidelines but these change. You need to do what you are comfortable with and monitor for any signs of reaction such as swollen lips / tongue or a raised red rash which is common for ingested allergens.

[Nai]

DD had peanut butter at 12months and is allergic to peanuts. She was given egg at 10months and was also allergic to that. We had her tested at the Royal Childrens so it was absolutely positive that she has allergies. Neither DP nor I have any food allergies.

Fortunately she has grown out of her egg allergy but she will have to wait until November for a retest on peanuts.

I would do as a PP suggested that you do a small and gradual skin test prior to giving your child an actual taste.

[Sequoia]

Great discussion and advice girls, thanks.

We are actually 38km's from the nearest hospital, in a rural area, so I think when I do try it I'll make sure we are in Perth in case anything happens.

I'll try the skin patch first though.

Thanks!