Baby with nut allergy advice?

[Cchloe7849]

My little boy is almost 7 months and started weaning a bit before he turned 6 months. It was going really well we were doing a combination of spoon feeding and baby led weaning. I gave him some smooth peanut butter on some toast yesterday and he had an allergic reaction which ended up with us going into hospital he came out in severe hives and was itching like mad. Luckily his breathing wasn’t affected and after he was given some steroids and antihistamines he was absolutely fine but this has completely knocked my confidence. I have never felt so scared as I know how bad peanut allergies can be. I am now terrified of giving him anything that could possibly contain nuts and nuts being anywhere near him. We are waiting for an appointment to have more tests done to see if he is allergic to anything else but so far he has only reacted to peanuts. Has anybody else experienced their little one having a nut allergy and what did you avoid giving them? Also, did they ever grow out of it? Thanks in advance

My dd has a peanut allergy. I'd avoid all nuts for the moment until your ds has been tested. He may turn out to be fine with other nuts but better safe than sorry until you know for sure. We avoid anything labelled may contain nuts, but consider anything labelled may contain traces of nuts as ok. My dd is now 10 and has not outgrown her peanut allergy and is now unlikely to do so. I think some kids do. My dd also reacted to a number of fruits (tomatoes, melon and pineapple) with hives, uncomfortable mouth and rash. These reactions do seem to have stopped.

Allergies are alarming but once you know what you're dealing with, it's perfectly manageable. You just become vigilant about checking ingredients and making sure your dc only eats food you give him.

I’m allergic to peanuts. As is my DS, found out when he was a baby. My DD is not though.

Fortunately for us it isn’t too severe and we can both eat other types of nuts (peanuts are actually a legume, so more related to peas) and can eat things that say “May contain” peanuts. It is worrying though. My DS is also allergic to egg, which is much more annoying

Personally I don’t find it a major issue in my life. I just don’t eat food that contains peanuts. But I’m very lucky that my reaction isn’t super sensitive or severe (vomiting) so I don’t live in fear. If I’m in doubt I just avoid the food

So traditional weaning as then peanut butter is a legume and not a tree nut but is speak to a medical professional before introducing peanut butter again as an allergy can happen the first or 100th time a food is introduced

My DS is allergic to peanuts, tree nuts, pulses etc. Found out at weaning when he reacted to something. He had skin prick tests and had woollen prescribed. He's a teenager now and still allergic. I don't think he will ever grow out of them ago you just have to be ultra careful on checking packages, ingredients etc. When he goes to parties (when a bit older) take your own food. A lot of schools are nut free now, it'll be fine, just take care

Woollen? where did that come from!? Was supposed to say epipen

I care for child who has a very similar story to your sons... all fine until having a little piece of mums peanut butter on toast.

Now just over a year later, it has not been a problem. We are very used to carrying the Cetirizine and EpiPens on us at all times and checking that toddler does not help themselves to any food products.

We are waiting for an appointment to have more tests done to see if he is allergic to anything else
Good, that will help you and the professionals involved in your sons care to develop a Allergy Action Plan and using a allergy ladder to introduce food identified by the tests (such as Egg, Dairy).

It might be the situation that he only reacts to peanuts and only if ingested. For now avoiding all products containing nuts is a good idea and also any products cooked in peanut oil. At his age you are not typically giving him nuts to eat, so it's more about avoiding him accessing food that adults have around him, especially at Christmas when nuts can be present.

Being young the vast majority of food he will eat will be made by you using simple ingredients or will be commercially available baby/toddler products which are clearly labelled with allergy information.

Try not to worry but do be watchful of things that are within his reach. Inform toddler group leaders that he has a nut allergy, just so they can make sure nut products are avoided... many groups will not have food containing nuts available anyway but good to double check. Make sure any carers are aware... babysitter, nanny, childminder, nursery... so they too can make sure he is not fed anything containing nuts.