when to try peanuts?

[MantaRay]

TBH I don't think allergies have only been on the rise since before we have started being careful. That's why we are being careful, because allergies were already on the rise. The truth is that no-one knows why. I personally suspect it is something to do with the increase in chemicals and so forth in our food, and the lack of freshness. But that is just a theory. Certainly there is no evidence that any harn is done by delaying the introduction of some foods.

In terms of peanuts, Jack had his first at just under 3 years as he had a previous food allergy and I didn't want to take a chance. Tom has had a small amount of peanut butter today for the first time at 21 months. I don't regret delaying at all. If in doubt, take the safer option.

[~Raven~]

My boss has 3 daughters and has no family history of allergies either. He ate some peanuts, kissed his youngest daughter and she had an anaphylactic reaction.

The same thing happened with John Ilhans aka Crazy John's daughter! That's how they discovered her nut allergy and he started an allergy foundation because of it.

[Ozziehoffy]

My ex DH's son who is almost 7 had a severe reaction after his mum kissed him after she'd eaten some nuts EARLIER in the afternoon before she got home! I'd never thought too much of it all until I knew someone. I can't remember when Joshua first had peanut butter and I've been forever questioning when to let Oskar try it. It does make me nervous because I know someone close it's happened to.

Re: allergies on the rise, I think a lot of that has to do with our lifestyles and surroundings - more chemicals, pollution etc. Seems to be a major change in the past 100 years anyway.

[2CheekyMonkeys]

i was told not to give my DD peanuts until is she is around 4years due to being allergic to egg.

i cant remember who made the comment about 'hysteria' but imagine if you gave your child something allergenic a little earlier than recommended and they went into anyphalactic shock? i think you would be a little hysterical! it really can kill.

thats not to say go crazy overboard with worry about it but just be mindful of the 'guidelines'. and if you still dont change your mind personally at least be conscious of other families who send their children off to day care/school with the very real possibility that they could die if someone brings a peanut butter sandwhich that day.

[dust]

if anyone is genuinely concerned about food allergies i suggest talking to ur gp and getting a full allergens test. otherwise go with what your gut tells you.. no point in worrying when like whats been saaid the little one gets a pb sanger and scoffs it down and is fine...

ive eaten all kinds of nuts and a big pb fan during pregnancy, i'd be leaving out some good vitamins if i did.. no one in my whole family (including extended) has any food allergies.(now thats weird!)

as for the daycare thing, i believe its the daycares responibility to inform the parents of certain foods to be avoid being bought and to make sure kids stay seated during eating times and correct hand washing is done after eating.

its too bad they dont issue kits of adrenaline along with the 'guidelines' for just in case.. (considering how bad ambulance times can be)
my 2c

[Lolli]

Hi all,
Just thought I'd add this- a friend told me a brilliant idea- if you are particulary worried about allergies, try a peanut butter sandwich in the doctors waiting room. That way you have immediate access to help if something should go horribly wrong.

[sunshine_sieben]

Dust, I pretty much agree with you. Your idea of getting an allergy test done is good in theory, if the tests weren't flawed

Instead, doctors usually rely on the safer skin ***** test, in which a tiny dose of peanuts gets injected under the skin to see if a hive forms.
This test isn't very precise, though. According to a 2001 study from Clinical and Experimental Allergy, only 40 percent of children with even strongly positive skin tests (a hive more than 5 millimeters wide) had positive food challenges -- and of them, only half had reactions needing any treatment.

Of course it is not hysteria if you have an allergic child and you want to keep them away from peanut products. Doing anything else would be stupid, negligent and downright criminal. But, treating every child as if they were allergic is creating a lot of anxiety around food IMO. Also, it is a widely held belief that delaying the introduction of peanuts can prevent peanut allergy. But there is no evidence to back this up.

Though severe peanut allergies are extremely uncommon, many parents want to know how to prevent them.

One widely held theory -- endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatrics -- is that allergy might be avoided if the mother stays away from peanuts and other likely food allergens during pregnancy and breastfeeding and that children shouldn't be given them until at least 2 years of age. But supporting research is absent.

The best study, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology in 1995, showed that a strict maternal diet coupled with delayed introduction of allergenic foods had no impact on long-term risk of ''food allergy, atopic dermatitis, allergic rhinitis, asthma, any atopic disease, lung function, food or aeroallergen sensitization, [or] serum IgE level."

Everybody is free to make up their own mind and decide to "err on the side of caution" if they so wish. I have decided to treat my child as if it were healthy in every way until proven otherwise.

LoriRae, your idea of offering a peanut butter sandwich in the doctors office is not bad :-) You would have to do this twice though. The first exposure to an allergen doesn't usually result in a reaction. But it does "sensitise" the person and actually make them allergic. It is usually the second or any subsequent exposure that is dangerous.

However, there are allergists who theorise that early exposure of low risk children (possibly in utero) to a potential allergen might "desensitise" the individual (the exact opposite of the commonly held belief). But as I said, it's only a theory. And if I had any reason to believe my child could be allergic, I would not even think about testing this theory.

Sasa

[Lucy]

try a peanut butter sandwich in the doctors waiting room. That way you have immediate access to help if something should go horribly wrong.

That is exactly what I have done with my 3...........

[2CheekyMonkeys]

i totally understand where you are coming from sunshine... but can you imagine something going terribly wrong to your young child all because you didnt wait a bit longer to introduce the food item. i dunno, i just dont think i will risk it next time round.

[sunshine_sieben]

Holly, of course I don't want something to happen to my child. But I take risks with her life every day. I get her vaccinated although a small percentage of children have a severe reaction. I drive my car with her in it, although I could get into a car accident. I take her to the pool (and dunk her under the water) although she could drown. I let her climb onto the jungle gym, although she could fall off. I let her play with other children although they could pass on an infection. I let her play with my dog, although he could bite her.
Supervision is the key in my opinion so that I can react quickly should anything happen.

I do take offence to the suggestion (not from you, just in general) that I am being reckless by taking this risk when I have done lots of research and have spoken to doctors about this before making up my mind.

Ok, I better not hijack this thread ;-)

Sasa

[Artechim]

Sunshine, I am with you on this one. I couldn't find any good evidence to suggest delaying the introduction would lower the chance of allergy. I personally think that if they are going to be allergic they will be regardless of the age introduced.

I would have been more cautious if he had any signs of other allergies but I am not leaving out whole food groups for years on the off chance that he may be allergic.

[Olive]

thanks for everyones input, i still havent tried the peanuts yet, keep meaning too but forgetting, i have herad of people actually putting small amounts on the child hand, will that work or does it need to be ingested?

[christy]

Jols I've heard of that working, I mean children who get egg on their hands come out in a rash... so maybe try it, can't hurt.

Sunshine, I don't think you are negligent. In fact, I think you need to understand that there are a few of us here who have children with severe allergies and who have had to live with the consequences of that. We have all done research and have made choices accordingly. All of my suggestions come from heaps of research and discussion with an allergist before starting solids with my DD2, I don't think you are a negligent parent, but I don't necessarily agree with your stance. And for some children this is a life threatening thing. Jovie reacted severely to soy at a young age (through breastmilk at 2 months). She doesn't react at all now. So... the theory of delay works very well in my opinion.