Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

Just curious, for those that had doctors who told them to hold off until age 2-3 until introducing peanuts................why so late?

I only ask because I would think if you're allergic won't you be allergic whether you're 1, 2, 3, etc? Waiting so long is just delaying the inevitable, if your child is allergic they are allergic. Wouldn't you want to know sooner rather than later in case they are allergic?

Trying out peanuts sooner isn't going to create an allergy where there isn't one so it would seem to me that introducing peanuts and peanut products around age 1 is not that big of a deal. Right?

Just wondering.

Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

IMO, your absolutely right. I've been waiting until i had a free moment to give her peanut butter so that just in case if i had to take her to the Dr, i would be home.
but your right, if they are allergic they are, regardless of what age they try it and i would rather know it sooner than later and avoid any future complications.

Re: Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

I think the logic is that if they are allergic they can communicate "hey, mommy, I can't breathe". Personally, I'd like to know sooner than later so I want to give it at a time when they are going to the dr (they have epi pens in office just in case) or when DH and I are both home and not busy so we can keep an eye out for rashes or weird breathing.

Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

A 2 year old can communicate with you more than a 1 year old. Granted it is not going to be "mom I can't breathe" but you get my point. Also I think some people would rather delay the reaction so that the baby is bigger to hopefully be able to handle the reaction better.

Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

I could be wrong, but I think there's some research out there that claims earlier exposure could trigger an allergy. The younger you are, the more immature your immune system is, and an allergic reaction is triggered by an oversensitive immune system.

I'm not saying I do or don't believe that, but there is that theory out there to consider.

Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

2 or 3 REALLY? Sheesh AJ had it at 1. I totally forgot about the rules as I didn't really care much for them anyway. She was ok with it. She's just not a huge fan of peanut butter in general. No one even TOLD me not to give her strawberries under age 1. LOL

In general everything CAN have allergic reaction but I don't just assume it will. My poor darling baby had peanuts, strawberries and honey all before one! THE HORROR! LOL didn't even know of any issue until I was viewing LIF haha

Re: Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

Re: Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

Posted by Hofstra26

Posted by Katareen

I could be wrong, but I think there's some research out there that claims earlier exposure could trigger an allergy. The younger you are, the more immature your immune system is, and an allergic reaction is triggered by an oversensitive immune system.

I'm not saying I do or don't believe that, but there is that theory out there to consider.

See, and I've heard the opposite. So much conflicting information out there.

Anyway, thank you all for the replies. I was just curious because there seems to be so much variation amongst doctors as to when to have what.

Re: Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

I recently asked my pediatrician about this. He said the results of studies in the US and UK were still inconclusive, and we wait for them to communicate at about 15 mo. In the meantime, I was wondering how it was so different than when we were children. What is different? GMO's? Pesticides?

Here is the abstract from a journal study:
Peanuts or peanut butter was introduced into the child’s diet from a significantly younger age in the peanut-allergic subjects (p<0.03). There was a positive correlation in the peanut-allergic subjects between age of introduction of peanuts and age at the onset of symptoms (r = 0.63). Exclusive breast feeding did not protect against the development of peanut sensitization. Peanut allergy is associated with an increased risk of sensitization to other foods. It is more likely to occur if mothers eat peanuts more frequently during pregnancy and introduce it early to the infant’s diet. These features highlight potentially avoidable factors that might prevent sensitization.

(Source: Exposure to peanuts in utero and in infancy and the development of sensitization to peanut allergens in young children

L. Frank,
A. Marian,
M. Visser,
E. Weinberg,
P. C. Potter

Article first published online: 20 JUN 2002

DOI: 10.1034/j.1399-3038.1999.101010.x)

Message edited 1/13/2014 11:19:01 AM.

Re: Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

Message edited 1/13/2014 11:52:19 AM.

Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

We waited until a little before 2 because that was what our pediatrician recommended. We have no history of peanut/nut allergies in the family, but sure enough, our son has one, along with bad seasonal allergies. I don't think he would not have had one if we had tried it at 6 months or 1 year. I think if someone is going to be allergic, then are going to be allergic regardless of when the allergen is introduced. I didn't even bother giving his younger sister peanut butter before having her tested. She, thankfully, has no food/seasonal allergies.

Re: Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

I think its because a reaction is probably going to be less severe for a toddler then it would for an infant.... Toddlers can tell you they feel something... KWIM?

Re: Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

Re: Spin-Off to Peanut Thread

Well my old ped said 2 not for allergy ( allowed nut oils much younger). The rule was because younger than two frequently choke on peanut butter.