To ask if you have had a toddler who was allergic to nuts but outgrew it later in life

[5lilducks]

Sorry, posting here for traffic.

I gave DD 2yrs and 8 mnths the tiniest bit of a cashew nut and she had an allergic reaction. She vomited and had a rash all around her eyes and was quite limp in my arms. The paramedics arrived and with piriton , calpol and monitoring she was sorted out. I am now worried she will have a lifelong allergy to nuts. Neither myself or DH or any of our close relatives have nut allergies. I can now see on NHS website they say to introduce nuts when child is between 6 -12 months. Given that she has eczema I was worried about introducing nuts to her but now having read the NHS guidance I am worried that I have failed as a mum in this respect and my DD will have a lifelong allergy to nuts. So, lovely mumsnetters, I would like to know if any of you have had a toddler who had nut allergies which they eventually grew out of, or any experiences of nut allergies in toddlers.

@ Bobojangles I want to give DD peanuts but after what happened I am very scared of her having another allergic reaction.

@dementedpixie no, she hasn't tried any other nuts (not intentinally). I only tried her with cashew nuts and for some stupid reason I thought it was the safest nut to introduce!

@Bobojangles. I want to give DD peanuts but after what happened I am very scared of her having another allergic reaction.

You could try a smear of peanut butter on her skin to start with just to try and gauge in a safer way whether she will react

Please dont experiment with giving your dd peanuts. Push to be referred to an allergy paed and get her tested properly. They can do skin tests for all the tree nuts plus peanuts and sesame in one afternoon, then your know where you stand. You could look at going privately for a 1 off appointment if the wait is too long.

@dementedpixie DD had the reaction just yesterday so I think I will leave it for now. Her eyes are still a bit puffy but the rash has gone. I don't really want to have to call the ambulance again for this esp as the paramedic told me to keep he away from nuts for now. I used to have loads of peanuts when I was breastfeeding (combination feeding) and that didn't seem to effect her. Wonder if nut allergens can pass through breast milk. I know they say if breastfeeding the child could get an allergy from the dairy the mum might be having so wonder if the same is true of nuts as well...

DD was allergic to all nuts (and many other things) as a toddler. She can now (10) eat peanuts and cashews and we’re about to try almonds. Definitely push for a referral to an allergy clinic; it’s been very useful and they can advise when and how to try new foods.

@hullabaloo68. I hope you don't mind me asking. Are you in the UK? Were you not referred to a specialist?

@Porcupineinwaiting. I will try and push for a referral and speak to the HV as well. Do you have any experience of getting this done privately ( in case I have no joy with the GP and HV i need a plan B). If all the tests can be done in one afternoon do you know how much this will cost roughly?

An initial private consultation around here (S Yorkshire) is usually about £200. On both occasions the consultant arranged for any necessary tests to be done on the NHS. Then in one case we paid another £150 for a follow up appointment and for the other we transferred straight to the NHS and now see the same consultant for free.

These weren't allergy consultants though they were urology and paediatric orthopedics. The first time we needed quick access to testing to rule out cancer (dh) and the second I couldn't get the bloody gp to refer to me on the nhs (sound familiar). Once it was established that there was actually an issue we were straight back to the nhs.

My daughter had a peanut allergy diagnosed at about two, she had epipens etc. When she was 12 they tested her again and we found out she was fine and not allergic anymore. She still won't eat peanuts thou! she's 21 now and i think its just a wariness of having me checking all the ingredients in everything when she was little!

We've used nut butters of various types to introduce our baby post 6 months to allergens at a young age. Really enjoys peanut, almond & cashew.

I know this doesn't help you specifically but if anyone else i reading it as there has been some studies done about introducing allergens as early as possible

DS's peanut allergy has just got worse.

@LastGoldenDaysOfSummer Sorry to hear that.How is he? (if you don't mind me asking) and at what age was he diagnosed?

@LastGoldenDaysOfSummer
Sorry, that was meant to be how old is your he

@historygeek12 thats great news..gives me hope. I can understand why your dd would be wary though .

@Porcupineinwaiting thanks for the info. I think I will have to research allergy specialists in London as a back up.

@Anothermother3 how did you find out your son is fine with nuts since 4? Were you under specialist care or did you have a test done?s

@scissy sorry to hear that. GP's can be very difficult to deal with. I am already stressing about having this conversation with my GP . Did you develop a nut allergy as an adult then?

My son was allergic to Brazil’s but grew out of it, not anaphylaxis though.

Dementedpixie, please don’t advise anyone to smear peanut butter on a baby’s skin as their first exposure to peanut - it is MORE likely to trigger an allergy. Giving peanut via the gut instead of skin means the baby’s immune system is likely to register it as a foodstuff rather than an allergen.
We used to wean babies at 3 months 30 years ago, and nut allergies were almost unheard of. The modern epidemic of food (especially nut) allergies in children is thought to be because of the delay in offering such foods orally. Babies are being sensitised via skin contact instead, as their gut is not seeing nut butter until after 6 months, which is missing the boat.
And a child who has already demonstrated an allergic reaction really should not be subjected to risky experiments at home.

He is still allergic to sunflower seeds though

@PablosHoney sorry to hear your son is still allergic to sunflower seeds. The gp better give me a referral if not I could potentially be calling the paramedics for each nut and seed I try her with !

My dad had an anaphylactic reaction to peanuts aged 13 months. Regular checks every 2 years showed same level of allergy. She's 14 and the hospital say no further check ups needed as the chances of the allergy going are minute. Has had a couple of 'scares' but generally found it easy to avoid peanuts.

@Blue565

We've used nut butters of various types to introduce our baby post 6 months to allergens at a young age. Really enjoys peanut, almond & cashew.

I know this doesn't help you specifically but if anyone else i reading it as there has been some studies done about introducing allergens as early as possible

I didn't eat nuts until I was a teenager and no allergy with me or anyone in my family. Dd has Brazil nuts, peanut butter at around 9 months with no reaction and is now allergic(she's 4, shown signs from about 2)

Weirdly she is allergic to all legumes(beans, lentils, etc)

She has shown the most extreme reactions to garden peas, these have been taken off the menu at nursery and also reception too.

Had blood tests which shown allergic to all nuts and seeds, legumes and peanuts.

Happily chomps on kinder bueno even though hazelnut is supposed to be one of her allergies.

Minefield.

@Epwell @Porcupineinwaiting @Bobojangles were you referred to an allergy specialists without an anaphylactic reaction ? Do you reckon they could say a bad rash around eyes , vomitting and being knocked for six is not enough for a referral? I really am dreading having this conversation with them.