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Original poster

Feeding DS first peanut - I sort of know I'm being silly but I feel stuck!

46 replies

Twitteratti · 21/08/2018 14:35

DS is 3 and a half, and has never eaten a peanut. Partly because DH and I don't especially like them so we don't have them in the house.
But partly also (if I'm honest) because I have always put off giving DS his first peanut in case he is allergic!
I am terrified that, if he is, I wouldn't know what to do and help wouldn't arrive in time.
I'm aware of all the research that says that, actually, children who are exposed to nuts early on and frequently are less likely to become allergic to them. So I know I should crack on and give him a peanut.
But I feel paralysed by fear!
Anyone got any words of encouragement or advice?

OP posts:

Nutkins24 · 21/08/2018 22:27

@OneToThree my dd is allergic to pistachio and cashew as well but no other nuts. Didn’t even think about the fact that I can get dc2 tested before we try any (not at that stage yet). OP Try a little lick of peanut butter. Any signs of swelling round mouth call 999. They will prioritise allergic reactions/anaphylaxis. However sometimes it takes several exposures of the allergen before a reaction will present so you’ll have to bite the bullet and try a few times before you know for sure. I’m sure if you have no family history of allergy it would be unusual for him to have one.

3gorgeousgirlies · 21/08/2018 22:39

A peanut is a legume. My son is allergic to them . We found out by accident as he came out in hives then was sent for allergy testing. I’m sure your son will be fine . It’s quite rare to have a peanut allergy.

restingbemusedface · 21/08/2018 22:43

To be honest if your son had a peanut or nut allergy you would probably know by now as he has probably come into contact with them or eaten foods containing them.

Also kids with nut allergies tend to have other allergies - eggs, milk. Also eczema/asthma.

Interested in this thread?

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Families General food

Shinygoldbauble · 21/08/2018 22:45

If he eats a fairly varied diet and things like chocolate, biscuits etc there is a good chance he has been exposed to small amounts of peanut already.

danni0509 · 21/08/2018 22:48

Yes, I was planning on giving him a whole nut. I frequently give him other nuts whole (and grapes too in fact). So I figured a peanut's size would be ok as it's smaller.

Cut a grape length ways in half and length ways in half's again - 1 grape into 4 length ways pieces.

I still do this with my 5 year old and probably will still be doing when he's 16.

Solasum · 21/08/2018 22:50

My son is also allergic to pistachio and cashew, seems there are quite a few!

I’d get on and do it OP. I have a very severe peanut allergy myself, and have to get someone else to feed my son peanuts once a year.

megletthesecond · 21/08/2018 22:56

Just do it in the hospital car park and have a wander around the site.

My DS does have allergies and I've found it less stressful testing nuts while at the hospital. Being a sprint from A&E was reassuring.

Original poster

Twitteratti · 21/08/2018 22:57

@Solasum poor you! How come your son has to eat peanuts once a year? Is it to check if he has developed the same allergy?

Oh dear, I haven't fed DS cashews or pistachios either! WHen I mentioned other nuts, I meant hazelnuts, Brazils, walnuts, almonds...

OP posts:

Original poster

Twitteratti · 21/08/2018 22:59

@megletthesecond....I was thinking of doing something like that! And then thinking of which hospital....!! I started thinking things like "the good ones seem to be very busy" and so on and I couldn't therefore decide which hospital...which made me realise I was just using this as a delaying tactic!!!

OP posts:

Solasum · 21/08/2018 23:07

Allergic reactions tend to queue jump at hospitals....

I was advised that DS should eat peanuts regularly as part of a normal diet, to prevent his developing an allergy. This is a bit difficult for me, as I am not having peanuts in any form in the house, and also don’t want to be around DS if he has been eating them in case he touched me/kissed me or similar.

If you are anxious about allergies it is possible to have skin prick tests for many allergens.

Mumteedum · 21/08/2018 23:14

Well look... I have severe nut allergy and I'm a single parent. I can't try my son with peanuts and that's that. I've had it all my life and I'm in my forties.

I was born allergic as they discovered it when dad had been eating them and picked me up as a small baby. I swelled up and they had to take me to hospital. Mum didn't eat nuts much but dad did.

I don't think they know much about causes. There's been all sorts of official advice over the years. Changes regularly.

I do think allergies run in families but not specific ones.

One of those things. It's likely your child is fine but if he has it, then you'll work it out. I've made it to middle age without killing myself and I've been fairly relaxed about it mainly.

I'd go with a bit of rubbing nut on skin or a tiny dab on the lips, with some liquid Piriton in the house to reassure you.

Dontrocktheboat · 21/08/2018 23:22

I still cut up grapes for my nine year old....

Never given my dc actual peanuts, for reasons described above, but assume they have been exposed as have a friend whose child had an anaphylactic reaction and has to avoid loads of things that could potentially contain or be contaminated with peanuts.

It is a tricky one - I have given them stuff cooked in peanut (groundnut) oil and they have been ok. I would not give a three year old a whole nut, mainly for the choking risk.

I remember being on tenterhooks when my dd first tried a prawn - v stressful!

Catfacecats · 21/08/2018 23:33

My kids were eating peanut butter sandwiches when I was weaning them! I guess you should be careful if you or your partner have a severe but allergy but if not, then I don’t get the fear.....

Applepudding2018 · 22/08/2018 10:51

@danni0509 joking about cutting up grapes for 16 year old - my DS is 17 and obviously not done this for years in normal life- but recently shopping for food for when DH and I went away for weekend leaving DS at home and I decided not to get him the grapes in case he choked while we weren't there to save him!!

dementedpixie · 22/08/2018 10:58

My 2 had peanut butter before age 1 - think ds was 9 months old. Peanuts are related to peas (They come from pods) and are not nuts

LookingForContentment · 22/08/2018 11:14

You can develop allergies at any age. To me it’s a bit pointless ‘testing’ for an allergy - because you may or may not get a reaction. But you could have a reaction, out of the blue, to the same food at a later date.

Is there a family history of atopy? Asthma, eczema, allergies?

I have one child with a peanut allergy and one with a hazelnut allergy. Everyone knows about peanut allergy, so I find the hazelnut allergy is more troublesome. My son has had reactions to cereals and cake that ‘may contain nuts’ - but my daughter can eat the same product with no problem. She does react to some chocolate and some ice creams.

My son developed the hazelnut allergy aged 11 years - I blame Nutella!

Peanuts are actually a legume, and cross over with allergies to lentils. Hazelnuts are tree nuts and cross over with other nuts.

If you’re worried buy some bottles of anti histamine and have them around. In the event of a mild allergic reaction they’ll stop it, in the event of a more severe one they’ll help counteract it whilst you phone the ambulance. You can give more than it says on the bottle - but if you’re needing to do that get help as well.

Mumteedum · 22/08/2018 11:15

Technically true but I am allergic to all nuts to varying degrees so if there's one present it can indicate other allergies

BishopBrennansArse · 22/08/2018 11:21

Not nuts but I relate to the OP in that I'm allergic to natural opioids (morphine etc) and shellfish - allergic as in anaphylactic rather than intolerant although it didn't start that bad.

DD has never had shellfish
I'm even more anxious since they gave her morphine post op and she reacted exactly as I did on first exposure to it...

Worieddd · 22/08/2018 11:25

Goodness me.

Isn’t this the whole reason people have allergies to food? Shouldn’t we just be giving them a variety of foods at a young age/eating various foods in pregnancy?!

PintOfMineralWater · 22/08/2018 11:29

My doctor told me you are not allergic from the first try of something, as your body needs to have the substance in there first to react against. Sorry that isn’t explained very well! But it’s poinyless eating the first peanut in a hospital car park.

LookingForContentment · 22/08/2018 11:39

I did eat a variety of foods, and fed them a variety of foods. Milky Way stars contain peanuts and that was our go to treat when they were young.
I also breastfed them. My only child without allergies was mostly bottle fed.

I don’t believe all the advice, I think you’re either prone to allergies, or you’re not

But if you are prone to them - you can easily develop other allergies - my daughter has started to swell up with E45 itch relief cream and Aussie brand shampoo.

My son has just gone and reacted to Galaxy Minstrels - I thought they were ok. Seems they are not.

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