When to introduce peanut butter?

Question

My daughter is 15 months old. My mother has an allergy to peanuts and peanut butter. I'd like to introduce new things into my daughter's diet, but because of my mom's allergy, I'm not sure when to do it or how to do it.

What are the chances that my daughter will be allergic to peanut butter, when can I introduce it and how should I do so and what should I look for in case she is allergic as well?

Answer 1

My son is 11 months old the Dr told me that I could give him PButter but to give him only a little bit.  If she does have a reaction you will probly see hives on her body, just keep an eye on her.

Answer 2

I've been giving my daughter toast with a very thin layer of PB since she turned one.

You can just give her a try and watch her for any reactions or you can have a dr. do allergy tests on her. (tho i don't know if you'd want to, the allergy tests that i received were little needles in my back, not very comfortable) .

Answer 3

There are peanut allergies in my husband's family.  His brother developed an adult allergy to them. My husband had a peanut allergy as a kid, but after years of staying away, grew out of it.  That is possible, it's all about the immune response and stuff.

My middle child, the one that ended up being so much like my husband, was the only one when I was pregnant that I couldn't eat peanut butter.  I could eat other fats, but pb would make me sick every time.  I took that as a sign.  I waited until he was two to give him peanut butter, and no problems since.  He's now six.

Answer 4

Pretty small, im sure allergies arent heriditory usually.

My daughter eats it now, give it a go.

Best wishes!

Ask your mother what happens to her, &look for that.

Im pretty sure youll notice though.

Wheezing, ect.

OR, before you get her on it and "experiment"

Go to the doctors and get her an allergy test.

Through this i found my daughter is allergic to cats.

Answer 5

If I were you, I would hold off on the PB until she was at least two years old. Peanuts hold such a high incidence of allergy, especially if it runs in your family. There are lots of other things you can give her such as almond butter. My daughter loves it and actually almonds are healthier for you than peanuts. They hold more nutritional value. My daughter also loves hummus, which is so easy to make. Just throw some chick peas in a blender with a couple garlic and a scoop of tahini (sesame paste). Add a bit of water to thin it out as needed. You can put some olive oil as well. Hope I helped

Answer 6

If you're that nervous about it I suggest making an appointment with the doctor to test for that specific allergy, as well as others. That way you can avoid a trip to the ER.

Answer 7

Allergies can be genetic, however the chances of your daughter inheriting them are low.  You should discuss this with your pediatrician because allergic reactions to food (especially peanuts) can be very dangerous in children under 2.

Answer 8

I've read that if allergies run in your family you should wait until the child is at least 3 years old.

Common symptoms

Signs and symptoms of peanut allergy can include:

Skin reactions such as hives, redness or swelling

Itching or tingling in or around the mouth and throat

Digestive problems such as diarrhea, stomach cramps, nausea or vomiting

Tightening of the chest

Shortness of breath or wheezing

Runny or stuffy nose

Anaphylaxis

Peanut allergy is the most common cause of anaphylaxis, a medical emergency that requires treatment with an epinephrine (adrenaline) injector (EpiPen, Twinject) and a trip to the emergency room. Signs and symptoms start soon after consuming peanuts and can include:

Constriction of airways, including a swollen throat that makes it difficult to breathe

Shock, with a severe drop in blood pressure

Rapid pulse

Dizziness, lightheadedness or loss of consciousness

As quoted: "Allergy symptoms change with age. The good news is that most children outgrow their food allergies by three years of age. The tomato- allergic toddler may become the preschooler who can safely indulge in ketchup. Children tend to outgrow their sensitivity to milk and soy products; other food allergies, such as nuts and shell fish, tend to persist." http://askdrsears.com/html/4/t041800.asp

One reason you want to wait is b/c an older child with a severe allergic reaction has a better chance of survival. I would put it off until she's at least 3 years old. Allergies do run in families.

You should understand that there are varying degrees of severity. Some people are so sensitive that even the tiniest bit will kill them.  I certainly wouldn't risk it while she's young. In fact you might want to ask your pediatrician to run an allergy test on her just b/c you know that it does run in your family.

Read this: Peanut Allergy Makes Kiss Deadly

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/america...

Answer 9

My daughters school has banned peanut paste.

Answer 10

From the first link given below:

"Bottom line: we suggest to try to avoid the introduction of peanut into the child's diet until after the age of 3 years old."

However, Anderson Cooper recently did a report on 60 Minutes about a nutritional breakthrough. Plumpynut, a mixture of peanut butter, powdered milk, and vitamins,  is a product used to fight malnutrition in children in impoverished nations. The average age of use when starting the product was 8.5 months. You probably won't see too many doctors in developed countries recommending peanut butter at this early of an age.

Answer 11

you could take her to an allergist now if you like. but its recommended that children don't eat peanut butter til their first birthday. My son loves peanut butter and has had it since his first birthday, he's now 14mths and doing great.

Answer 12

Ask her pediatrician.  If an allergy is in the family, you may have to wait quite a while.  No one here on Y! Answers can give you that answer, and I wouldn't take the advice of any of them that try.

Ask her doctor.