When Can I Give My Child Peanut Butter?

A reader asks:

There really is no definitive answer to this question. Much depends on your family history. If you or anyone in your child's family has a food allergy or allergic type disorder (like asthma or eczema) or if your child has had a food allergy in the past, then you should wait to introduce peanuts and peanut butter. How long? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, you should wait until your child is 3 years old.

In addition, mothers with any history of a peanut allergy in the family should avoid peanuts and peanut butter in the third trimester of pregnancy and for as long as they are nursing their children.

If there is none of the above in you or your child's history, however, then peanut butter can be a healthy addition to the diet even before your child turns 1 year old. Just be sure to avoid giving big spoonfuls of peanut butter and never give children under 3 years of age whole peanuts because these pose a choking hazard.

With all that said, be aware that a peanut allergy can be severe, lifelong and potentially deadly. Look for signs of an allergic reaction such as:

• hives
• difficulty breathing or asthma symptoms
• swelling of the mouth or throat
• vomiting or diarrhea
• loss of consciousness

These signs can appear in just minutes or they make take hours, so be watchful during this time and do not wait to call 9-1-1 or your health care provider. Call immediately!

If you are concerned about your child having a peanut allergy, the only real way to avoid the danger is to avoid peanuts and peanut butter altogether. But be aware that for the majority of children, there is no danger.

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