When to give baby peanut butter (allergy?)

[TheRhythmlessMan]

DD 8mo. Should I bite the bullet and give her a teeny tiny amount of peanut butter to test for allergy or is it too dangerous?
I've heard sometimes a test is done at the doctor's but do most people test at home? Nether DH or I have allergies but it does run in the family a bit.

I'm just worried about the nut thing because I know reactions can be quite severe.

Did you eat it in pregnancy? Do you eat it, is it around in the home? If so and there's been no reaction then I wouldn't have thought there would be an issue. But you could always go and sit outside a&e before giving her some if you're concerned!!

I ate so much PB during pregnancy that I figured my son would be unlikely to be intolerant as his amniotic fluid was probably 25% peanuts so I just went for it. Thankfully he hoovered it up.

I don't know if dabbing some on the back of the hand would show anything? Or just mixing some with porridge so she only gets a tiny bit?

That's an interesting idea, smearing some on her skin to see if there's reaction. Thank you (and yeah, sitting outside a hospital too!)

Why would you not give it? Does he have other allergies?

Give it sooner rather than later as the evidence shows delaying makes the risk of allergy more likely.

If you and DH are not allergic I’d put a little bit on toast and just crack on. That’s the current advice as far as I can tell.

I was a bit nervous but mine were fine and love it. Such a useful food. I think the advice I read last week was to introduce before 1 yr.

Morning,
Peanut butter was one of the first foods my little one tried (within a month or so of starting to wean on to food). I'd eaten nuts during pregnancy. I fed it separately to any other foods so that if there was a reaction I could be certain it was the peanuts. I also watered it down a touch so that the texture was easier for her to manage. All went well and now it's a favourite snack

I would be very wary if there are allergies in the family. I have a DD who has multiple allergies, but nuts is a huge one. If you are concerned about this, please speak to your GP or health visitor before trying. Allergies are scary and symptoms can develop to potentially fatal proportions in mere seconds.

Most people just give their child a peanut butter sandwich.

Ok thanks everyone. Sorry if I've come across as '' but my nephew has a huge allergy to peanuts so I was concerned about what might happen with my DD. But it's reassuring to hear of your positive experiences so thank you.

It's easy for people to do faces when they don't have allergies in the family and haven't had to watch their small children being seriously ill after 'just giving them a sandwich'.

I would start with putting it on her skin, then maybe dab a tiny amount on her lip?

It's really scary, good luck with it OP.

my nephew has a huge allergy to peanuts

Fairly important omission to the OP!

Even so, if neither you nor your dh, nor any first-degree relative have a peanut allergy, I would still just give the child some to eat. Do it outside A&E, if that would feel safer, but bear in mind that that the first exposure may trigger the allergy, but the second exposure may be the one to trigger a reaction. Also that reactions can be delayed.

Please don't smear it on the skin. Recent research suggests that if the first exposure M to peanuts is via the skin, then a fat higher risk of allergy develops. There's a suggestion that peanut butter or similar should be introduced early - around 4 months - orally, to reduce the risk of allergic reaction.

If you're concerned then seek medical advice from a specialist.

Read the Eat study
Allergies can start at any time, and unlikely on first exposure.
My dd had no treenut/peanut allergy until he was 4 when one weekend had a bad reaction to pecan and sesame. . After that he had reactions to peanut , all treenuts except cashew .
although had complained of a scratchy throat from sesame when he was 2. He grew out of peanut allergy but still allergic to tree nuts and seeds

My DD has multiple food allergies, although they are all non ige.

As someone said, there is strong evidence that delaying the introduction of potential allergens like peanut increases rather than decreases the risk of allergy. For that reason, I wouldn't wait. Assuming she is OK with it, you also want to give it regularly after that - do at least once a week.

My dietician's advice was to smear a new food on the arm, then the cheek, before giving any to try. Someone above's suggestion of trying it outside a hospital if you are really worried doesn't sound likea bad idea. Bear in mind they can seem OK with it on the first exposure, but it sensitises them - and then they react on the 2nd exposure - so its not just the first exposure you need to be careful with.

I'm just going to have to take a gamble. Despite what pp said about recent research concluding that the arm test possibly creating a higher risk of developing an allergy I think I'm going to try that method anyway. There is so much conflicting advice out there.

My DS has nut allergies and was diagnosed as a baby before he had ever had a nut. He had other allergies too. If your keen to try it, rub a little peanut butter on your little ones lips. Wait for half an hour and see if there is any reaction. You then move on to trying a tiny amount. This is what they do with a 'challenge' test in a hospital setting. My DS had to have it in hospital as he had known allergies already. Really read up on the signs of a reaction.

Here's a link to an article in The Times about the recent studies showing early introduction of nuts orally (not via skin):

www.thetimes.co.uk/article/why-immunotherapy-could-end-the-nut-allergy-crisis-skt3t8x6l?shareToken=f4a79add5c237ab82d7e9ec7349b796c

Does your child have eczema? Do you have any concerns over your child's digestive system? Would you say your child produced more than average amount of mucus? Is your child a colicky baby? Has your child ever had unexplained rashes, hives, sudden appearance of red / itchy skind? If you answer yes to any of these and you have allergies in the family from either side, I would tread softly. The peanut immunotherapy with early introduction excluded those who tested positive for allergy already and started with very tiny amounts, not something you could do at home and also had medical support on hand. That said, most people who do not have risk factors, do introduce nuts in turn during the early months of weaning. (We didn't as had a few risk factors already.)

www.nhs.uk/conditions/pregnancy-and-baby/solid-foods-weaning/#babies-and-food-allergies

The results from the trials by du Toit referred in thé article above are fascinating, not least because the mechanisms are not fully understood. My son reacted to peanuts through my breastmilk but from very shortly after he was born, it was clear he had lots of tolerance issues.

I'm allergic to nuts. My son is not. My husband gave him some when he was around 7 months old in a sandwich.

We had an inkling DS was allergic to something before he had ever eaten peanuts.
He was a rashy baby, had eczema, we were pretty certain he'd be diagnosed with asthma, he would develop hives after being kissed/touched by someone who had eaten peanuts although we didn't make the connection at first.
When he actually ate peanuts for the first time the reaction was instant and my reaction was to instantly give him Piriton.

Go to the world food aisle and buy "bamba" it's a peanut based puff snack. You can buy a packet about 50/70p it's very light on peanut but if there is an allergy it hopefully will be mild. Not peanut butter!! In Israel where this is a routine snack their instances of sever peanut allergies are lower. OBVIOUSLY if you have a history of this you never try it!