Trying peanut butter on 14mth old whose brother is allergic to tree nuts?

[Villamum]

My DS (now 7) is allergic to tree nuts, specifically hazlenuts, cashew nuts and pistachios, but has to avoid all nuts. My DD1 (4) has no sign of any allergies or the eczema and asthma that her brother has but eats very little anyway. I am now thinking of trying peanut butter in a sandwich for my DD2 who is 14 months old but I am a bit nervous about possible reactions. What have other people done with the younger ones in their family if the older children have an allergy? Is it best just to avoid it and be on the safe side? Any advice appreciated.

[gagarin]

Surely you shouldn't even have peanut butter in the house if ds has an allergy?

My friend's children can react to nuts through touch alone and dd2 might give him a peanut buttery hug and set a reaction off? When my teenage daughter babysitswe have to make sure she doesn't have nuts/peanut butter before she goes.

But perhaps you mean ds is sensitive not fully allergic? Do you have an epipen? If so I'd def say keep all peanut stuff out of the house in case of accidental contact.

[brimfull]

MY ds has tree nut allergy,not allergic to peanuts but we don't have peanut butter in the house.
Personal choice really.

HAs your younger one ever touched peanut butter and was there a skin reaction?

[Villamum]

He does have an epipen and is fully allergic to tree nuts but has been tested for peanut allergy and is completely fine. He was just advised to avoid all nuts because he is at a greater risk of developing a peanut allergy because of his tree nut allergies.

Thankfully his previous reactions have been purely through eating rather than touch/other contact with nuts. So luckily we would not have a problem with it in the house and he is certainly sensible enough not to start getting it out of the cupboard and digging in.

I guess my main concern would be, do I assume DD2 could have similar allergies and just avoid all nuts? This would probably be the simplest/safest way, just feel that there lots of nutrition to be had through some nuts and would be a shame to be missing out.

[Villamum]

sorry ggirl, crossed posts. No, she has never touched peanut butter.

[gagarin]

Some nutrition in nuts - but ds is thriving without? So others can also do without? I'd be inclined to leave it until dd2 is older?

[chipkid]

My ds has a peanut allergy. I was told that dd is 25% more likley to have one than another child given her brother's history. She cannot be tested accurately until she has had exposure to nuts. I have been advised to keep her nut free and I do so. If you are going to do this-I think you should do it in a controlled way ie when taking your older child to the allergy clinic or at the Doctors! I would be very careful.

[brimfull]

why don't you try putting a bit on her skin

my ds reacts to secondary touching so I'd know if something was going to cause a problem.

[Villamum]

I think I will leave it, then. The fact that I wanted to get some feedback from MN shows that I wasn't totally confident about it in the first place. As you say, gagarin, DS is doing fine without nuts. Thanks for your thoughts.

[williamsmummy]

I have four children, only one is allergic.
If your child has no atopic diseases, then you might be lucky, he may have avoided it.

if your allergic son has a immunoligist/allergy clinic , mention your younger child.

[tatt]

your allergic child should have repeat tests sometime, if you're lucky they will do your younger child then. Otherwise I've posted before about how allergy clinics do a food challenge.