Weaning a 6 month old with peanut allergies in the house

[Foodx123]

Hey!

So my daughter has turned 6 months and I've read in many many booked and internet resources that I need to introduce nuts into her diet and that it's better to introduce now rather than later. Everything except my health visitor says this who I am ignoring because she's told me to delay it as they don't like to give babies nuts before 1.

We live with in laws currently and there are quite a few allergies. Dad has moderate eczema, various food allergies, asthma and hay fever. His brother who lives with us has similar plus a peanut/cashew and every other nut allergy. I've been to my health visitor who talks rubbish in my opinion and I've been to my GP who sent a referral and then came back to me to say they don't "routinely" test these things which means I am left on my own to do it, I am just scared. We tried egg custard and two separate occasions and she's developed a rash on her face and has really smelly gas! Does that mean she could possibly have an allergy to egg? 🥺

How do I go about testing peanut? I want to try some peanut butter on toast but with another allergy in the house in petrified who two people who could potentially be allergic. We have our own separate living room would it be best to try the allergens in there? That way we can deep clean it after. Literally if you breathe on her uncle he has a BAD reaction. If anyone has any advice please let me know as I am finding it hard to get it elsewhere!

Xxxx

We tried egg custard and two separate occasions and she's developed a rash on her face and has really smelly gas! Does that mean she could possibly have an allergy to egg? 🥺

It certainly sounds a possibility. Id book another appointment with the GP and say that you suspect egg allergy and ask for a referral to the Allergy Clinic and a Paediatric Dietitian. Your GP should do this.

Personally I'd wait for the referral to the allergy clinic before I'd try the nuts, but if you're going to do it before then, make sure it's in the morning on a day that the GP is open and you're not too far away, just in case

I heard of somebody who parked up at the hospital car park to try nuts for the first time

I think testing on the skin is supposed to be a bad idea and it's better tested orally. If there are allergies to nuts in the house the I'd be wary of trying them there.

You need to test a tiny amount at a time (start from a drop and gradually increase) and have pirition on hand, also your camera to take photos if needed

My first had multiple allergies and this is the advice we where given

You want to introduce all the main allergans as soon as you can and anything that is tolerated should ideally be regularly eaten to reduce the risk of an allergy developing.

Excluding a food unecessarily actually increases the risk of allergy, and they're cannot test for allergy if your baby has never been exposed as sensitivity normally develops on the 2nd exposure not first( although some exposure can happen through breast milk)

Most nuts are available as nut butter which is a suitable way to introduce it to babie

We picked up my 2nd son's tree nut allergy this way - it wasn't that scary because it was very controlled and he's under the same team as his brother now

As for egg - this is one of my son's allergies, custard is quite high up the egg ladder and it depends on the type of rash. You might want to start very slowly at the bottom of the ladder, and see how you get on. Although if the rash was instant hives, swelling and redness rather than an eczema type thing I'd be asking for a referral

It's been 11 years since Ihad a baby but the advice then was also do not give nuts to children before the age of 1.

I did it at 11 months and found out the hard way that DS1 has a severe peanut allergy. So i would listen to your HV advice and still push for a referral if you have the history of allergies and eczema in the family.

FWIW, we have found that generally the wider world are thankfully aware of peanut allergies (not so much other allergies like egg which DS also has) and so with attention it is easy to avoid.

and you know- peanut butter isn't water. It's not neccessary to life, so why not just hold off and take the advice of your HV? Particularly if you have others in the house who might react.

Nhs says you can give nuts from 6 months and warns against holding off until later

www.nhs.uk/conditions/baby/weaning-and-feeding/food-allergies-in-babies-and-young-children/

Thanks ladies!

Nhs wouldn't refer me!

However, I'm lucky to have private health care through my work so I am in the process of getting a referral that way :)

FYI the advice of the HV is outdated and the newest advice is exactly the opposite of what some posters here have said

Early introduction reduces the risk of allergy and is important in atoptic individuals or those with a family history of allergy, asthma and eczema. Does your baby have eczema? That will increase their risk of allergies

Try the allergies UK website or anaphylaxis campaign I'm sure they'll have weaning advice too

@Bobojangles

FYI the advice of the HV is outdated and the newest advice is exactly the opposite of what some posters here have said

Early introduction reduces the risk of allergy and is important in atoptic individuals or those with a family history of allergy, asthma and eczema. Does your baby have eczema? That will increase their risk of allergies

Try the allergies UK website or anaphylaxis campaign I'm sure they'll have weaning advice too

Hi,

Yeah, I am now aware of it being outdated. I didn't listen to her in the first place! Stupid advice really...

Yes she has had eczema. Had a bad flare up once that I contacted the GP. She gets patches of eczema here and there. It doesn't surprise me as her dad has it moderately as an adult.

xxx

@dementedpixie re the skin thing- I was surprised as well tbh.

We’ve got multiple allergies in our house so I’m always really hesitant about introducing new foods safely. We have contact allergies too so go for products that are allergy friendly (like some of supermarket own brand or specialist for baby allergies like Munch Free) xx