Peanuts For Your Peanut
For some families, peanuts are on the no-fly list. If someone in your house has a peanut allergy, it means they can’t even come in contact with the scrumptious legume. When you have a baby, introducing them to peanuts for the first time can be scary. Not to worry, below are some of the most commonly asked questions about introducing peanuts.
Here's what you need to know:
- Peanut allergies are very rare.
- It’s recommended that parents introduce peanuts as early as 6 months.
- If there is no family history of peanut allergies, your baby likely won’t have one.
- Tree nuts are a different allergy than peanuts, but can be just as severe.
- Your little one's daycare or preschool likely has a no-peanut rule.
When do I give my babe peanuts?
There is a lot of fear surrounding the introduction of peanuts. They are one of the most common, and severe, food allergies. Historically, parents have been told to wait until around 1 year before introducing peanuts to a baby. However, between 1997 and 2008, the number of children with peanut allergies almost tripled. This showed that tolerances weren't being built up properly.
Nowadays, it’s recommended that parents introduce peanuts as early as 6 months to reduce the amount of children with peanut allergies. Even so, its introduction is extremely intimidating.
Below are a few things to think about before introducing peanuts to your little one: