Posted by Audra Baumgartner on January 6, 2017 · Leave a Comment
New guidelines issued yesterday by experts from the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommend introducing peanut-containing foods to babies as early as possible as a way to lower their risk of developing a peanut allergy.
The recommendations reverse previous advice to add peanuts later, but are driven by new scientific research that showed early introduction of peanuts could cut allergy development by 81%. The guidelines are tailored for a child’s risk for peanut allergy, as follows:
Infants at HIGH risk for peanut allergy (have severe eczema, egg allergy or both) - Add peanut-containing foods as early as 4 to 6 months
- Consult with health care provider prior to adding peanuts – specialized testing may be needed
- Infants with mild or moderate eczema
- Add peanut-containing foods around 6 months
- Infants without eczema or any food allergy
- Add peanuts to infant diet as appropriate/desired
- IN ALL CASES, start babies on other solids before adding peanut-containing foods
If you have specific questions or concerns about introducing your child to peanuts, speak to your pediatrician or family doctor.
