Do you remember when butter was demonized and everyone switched to margarine? Eventually, we discovered that margarine is largely artificial and returned to butter. Then almond milk took the spotlight over cow’s milk, only for coconut milk to steal the show, leaving us all dizzy and questioning what else can be labeled as milk.
Parenting trends can feel just as tumultuous. First, it was rear-facing car seats until age one, then suddenly it was two! The timeline for introducing solid foods fluctuated between six months, three months, and even a year! The same confusion applies to introducing peanuts.
When our first two children were born, we introduced them to peanut butter around their first birthday without any signs of allergies, and they thrived with a love for all things peanut. However, I distinctly remember the shocked reactions from friends who insisted we should have waited until they were two.
Our third child, however, faced numerous allergies—from milk to grass to various fabrics. To avoid triggering yet another allergic reaction, we steered clear of nuts for a while. By the time we realized he had never tried peanut butter, it was too late. Now, at five years old, he is allergic to nuts and carries an epi-pen, leading me to wonder if our caution played a part.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology indicates that awareness of peanut allergies has increased, along with the reported cases. A study from May 2010 highlighted that between 1997 and 2008, the rate of peanut allergies in children had more than tripled. Did the prevailing belief that we should delay introducing peanuts contribute to this rise? And could our own hesitance have influenced our son’s allergies? It’s a question I often ponder.
Current guidelines suggest a different approach. Experts now recommend introducing highly allergenic foods, including peanuts, to babies as early as four to six months, provided they are at low or moderate risk. According to Dr. Sarah Mitchell, an allergist with the Allergy & Asthma Network, this is a significant shift from the previous recommendations.
It’s important to note, however, that the guidelines vary for “high-risk” infants. Dr. Mitchell clarifies that high-risk refers to children with severe eczema or an existing egg allergy. In contrast, moderate-risk children, those with mild to moderate eczema, can also start at four to six months without needing further assessment.
For parents with infants who are not at risk, nut-based products like Crazy Richards’ peanut butter powder can be introduced once solid foods have been started and the baby can sit in a high chair. Our son had severe eczema as a baby, which may have led us to delay introducing peanut butter regardless. We might have sought an evaluation from a certified allergist, but now we’ll never know.
How to Introduce Peanut Products
So, how should parents go about introducing peanut products? Here are some guidelines from Dr. Mitchell:
- Introduce each nut product individually, waiting 3-5 days between each new introduction and opting for home rather than a restaurant setting (avoid whole nuts until age four).
- To minimize choking risks, creamy peanut butter can be thinned with warm water or breast milk, or peanut butter powder can be used in small amounts based on the child’s age and neck control.
- After introducing the food, watch for common signs of allergic reactions, such as rashes, hives, coughing, wheezing, vomiting, or diarrhea within an hour post-consumption.
Dr. Mitchell advises that the same approach of introducing small amounts of potential allergens at home can apply to other common allergens like eggs and shellfish. Should any allergic reactions occur, immediate consultation with a physician is essential.
In summary, the shift in understanding about the timing of introducing peanut butter may have implications for the rising incidence of allergies, but it is not the sole factor. “Recent studies suggest this may be a contributing factor, though environmental influences also play a significant role,” Dr. Mitchell explains. The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology has found that children at high risk for peanut allergies are significantly less likely to develop one when peanuts are introduced before their first birthday.
Being proactive about food allergies is crucial, and introducing peanuts early may be a sensible step for many parents.
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