When is it safe to give an infant or a young child peanut butter?

This idea, however, is controversial -- several studies support the theory, and others argue against it. Some studies have even suggested feeding infants formulas that are completely hydrolyzed, meaning processed to destroy milk and soy proteins to be "less allergenic." This, too, is controversial. For pregnant women, it may also be a good idea to avoid eating peanuts, especially in the 3rd trimester. Again, this is not proven, and some studies will show that eating peanuts during pregnancy may help prevent peanut allergy.

Bottom line: we suggest to try to avoid the introduction of peanut into the child's diet until after the age of 3 years old.

Testing for Allergy

Once a peanut product is given to a child, there are several ways to determine if he or she is allergic to it. After a child eats peanut, watch for food allergic symptoms such as hives, vomiting, diarrhea, shortness of breath, wheezing. The symptoms usually will develop shortly after eating. If this occurs, contact a pediatrician immediately. It may be necessary to bring the child to the emergency room, or to give the child liquid anti-histamine at home. An allergist can then determine if the reaction is due to peanut by either a blood test or a skin test, or he or she may do both. If your child has peanut allergy, it is critical to strictly avoid peanut and have emergency medication at home, school or with any care takers. Anyone who cares for your child needs to be aware of the food allergy symptoms and how to treat them.

To determine if your child outgrows the peanut allergy, DO NOT give peanut to the child at home to test. Only the allergist can help you determine if your child may have outgrown peanut allergy, and he or she may give the child peanut in a hospital or office. If you have further questions, please let me know. Another good resource is the Food Allergy Network.