Do you love anything with peanut butter? Me too!

Share your love of that delicious legume with your baby and reduce their risk of a peanut allergy later on in life.

New research suggests that early introduction of peanut-containing foods, in developing immune systems, may reduce the risk of a peanut allergy.  By introducing small amounts peanut-containing foods in infancy, it trains the body not to overact with a serious allergic reaction. An allergic reaction can range from rashes or hives to difficulty breathing and even death.

In fact, the researched revealed an 81% reduction in development of a peanut allergy in high risk children when regular peanut consumption began in infancy until 5 years of age.

Peanuts

Here are the new guidelines:

High-risk infants (those with severe eczema, egg allergy or both): should have peanut-containing foods introduced as early as 4 to 6 months after they have been tested by a specialist. A specialist may want to watch the infant consume peanut-containing food to ensure there is not a severe reaction.

Moderate-risk infants (those with mild to moderate eczema): should have peanut-containing foods introduced into their diets around 6 months of age.

Low-risk children (those with no eczema or evidence of an egg allergy): should have peanut-containing foods freely introduced into their diets based on family and cultural preference.

All infants should start other solid foods before they are introduced to peanut-containing foods and infants should never be given a whole peanut.

Here are some age-appropriate ways to introduce peanut-containing foods:

• 2 tsp hot water + 2 tsp of smooth or creamy peanut butter, allow to cool
• 2 tsp of smooth or creamy peanut butter + 2-3 Tbsp. favorite pureed fruit or vegetable
• 2 tsp of peanut flour or powdered peanut butter + 2 Tbsp. favorite pureed fruit or vegetable
• Try the peanut-flavored puff snack Bamba, (used in a study of peanut allergy prevention) Snack should be softened with 4-6tsp of water for babies under 7 months

With peanut allergies on the rise, currently affecting about 2% of today’s youth, it’s important to build tolerance and prevent a peanut allergy from developing. And…. your baby may one day be able to enjoy all the creamy, sticky, nutty goodness that peanut butter has to offer even if they are at high risk for an allergy!

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