Introducing a child to nuts, worried about allergies - how do you do it?

[crokky]

I would like to give my 2yo some smooth peanut butter. AFAIK he hasn't got any allergies, but I am worried in case he might have a nut allergy. Is the reaction instantaneous if they are allergic? If they are OK with a bit of peanut butter, do you not need to worry anymore? How/when did you try nut products? (He has eaten smooth choc and hazlenut spread with no problem). TIA.

None of mine have had anything like peanut butter and I really want them too. Too chicken in case they develop an allergy.

lol Starlight - I was thinking of parking near the hospital and giving him some in the car, but I was embarassed to admit it!!

I would put some on his skin, wait an hour, if no reaction, put a tiny bit on his lips, wait an hour, if no reaction, then let him taste a bit proper, wait a day, if no reaction, you're probably safe.

Well, I would do all that if I were at all worried. What I really did was just give DC a small amount at about 1yo (hence the talk name).

I gave ds peanut butter at 8 months as if there is no family history of allergic diseases then it is considered ok from 6 months. DD had it from around 12 months and she was also fine (she was my PFB so I was a tiny bit more cautious)

Did roughly the same as Seona (haven't tried 8m ds yet).

You can always park in hospital carpark -- worth it if there are allergies in the family.

I read somewhere that telling pregnant women etc to avoid peanuts has led to allergies going up not down compared to countries where they haven't given that advice. (I didn't avoid peanuts when pg...)