Allergens from 4 months?

[Somethink]

I've heard that some people recommend introducing small amounts of the common allergens to babies from 4 months (i.e. tiny bit of peanut butter), does anyone have links to good resources on this? I've heard of the study from Israel where peanut snacks are common from 4 months and they have a low rate of peanut allergies.

I know NHS advice is solids from around 6 months but it was an NHS GP who suggested it to me and as I understand it the idea is just small tastes of key allergens, not to properly start solids.

Hi, this study might give you some information. https://www.food.gov.uk/research/food-allergy-and-intolerance-research/eat-study-early-introduction-of-allergenic-foods-to-induce-tolerance
personally i did choose to introduce from 4 months (no food is recommended before 17 weeks) but my baby has CMPA so is more at risk of other allergies. If baby has no allergies and there is no family history of allergies I would probably have waited.

Thank you @Takemeawayy ! We have family history of allergies and I've noticed some mucus in nappies which I think can be a sign of allergies from the breastmilk. Much appreciated!

@Somethink my little one is allergic to cows milk and I started fully weaning him at 4 months so I don't see why small tastes of allergens would be a problem. He's also intolerant to nightshade vegetables so awaiting a dietician appt. Has your little one been tested for allergy/intolerance?

No, I'm going to call the GP this week. How do they test for allergies in babies? Will they just tell me to reduce dairy (I don't have much anyway)?

You should only do potentially life threatening actions like this under direct supervision of a paediatrician in a medical setting. If you give peanut to a baby at risk of allergies, they could well die before an ambulance can get to you and treatment of anaphylaxis in tiny babies is difficult anyway.
Babies' guts are not mature at this age and there is a greater likelihood of proteins leaking out into the bloodstream.

@Somethink my little one hasn't been fully tested yet but it was obvious that the milk was hurting him so I switched him to soya milk and all his symptoms stopped. Am seeing the paediatric dietitian for his proper testing so can update you in a couple of days as to what happens if you'd like me to?

We had to start gently weaning at 4m for severe reflux. When we saw the paediatrician about this she said that that's the new thinking and we did small swipes of peanut butter, egg etc once a week until 6m when we started BLW

Thanks @Devilsmommy and @violetcuriosity

@Redebs do you have a link to evidence that there's a greater danger in introducing allergens at 4m compared to 6m? The study linked by @Takemeawayy indicates there's actually less risk? I've never heard of a greater risk of protein leaking.

If you think they're reacting to dairy the GP won't be able to tell if they're reacting to anything else until you've cut out dairy completely.

Redebs is not quoting current medical advice. The risk of anaphylaxis in small babies is tiny and far out stripped by the benefit of introducing allergens early.
We did this with my higher risk second baby OP - she’d had 5 allergens incl peanut and egg by six months. So far, no problems with allergies which has been a huge relief. Do tiny tastes and build up.

PP is right, new evidence suggests early weaning with "higher risk foods" (like peanuts) from 4 months especially of high risk of allergies due to e.g. eczema.

LEAP and EAT study worth a read.