When and How to Give Your Baby Peanut Foods
So you’ve started feeding your baby purees, and you’re both having fun with this new milestone. Your baby has tried lots of new foods, and you’ve heard you can give them peanut products now. But does that sound a little scary? Let’s put your mind at ease by talking about how to safely introduce peanut foods to your baby.
We used to tell parents not to feed young babies a long list of foods that can cause allergies, including peanuts. At the time, we believed this would help prevent a child from developing allergies. But newer research has changed those recommendations. If your baby doesn’t have severe eczema or a known food allergy, we now know that these foods are safe to give them. In fact, research shows that we can help prevent some food allergies by providing small amounts of foods like peanut butter early, at around 4 to 6 months.
When can I safely give my baby peanut foods?
It’s time to start offering peanut products if your baby:
- Is 4 months or older.
- Is already eating other pureed foods.
- Isn’t ill right now.
- Hasn’t had an allergic reaction to peanuts or to any other foods.
If your baby has severe eczema or has had allergic reactions to any food, talk with your pediatrician before feeding them peanuts.
Which peanut products should I offer my baby?
It’s important to NOT give your baby whole peanuts or chunky peanut butter. These foods can cause choking.
Instead, start by making one of these four options:
- Thinned smooth peanut butter. Put 2 teaspoons of smooth peanut butter in a small dish. Add 2 to 3 teaspoons of hot water and stir until well blended and the mixture is runny. Let the mixture cool. You can also thin the peanut butter with breast milk or formula.
- Smooth peanut butter in a fruit or vegetable puree. Mix 2 teaspoons of smooth peanut butter with 2 to 3 tablespoons of any pureed fruit or vegetable your baby already eats. Stir until well mixed and thin with more puree if needed.
- Peanut flour or peanut butter powder plus fruit or vegetable puree. Mix 2 teaspoons of peanut flour or peanut butter powder into a small dish with 2 tablespoons of any pureed fruit or vegetable that your baby already eats. Stir until well mixed and thin with more puree if needed.
- Bamba peanut puffs. Soften the Bamba snacks by putting two-thirds of a 1-oz bag of Bamba in a small bowl. Add 1.5 to 2 tablespoons of fluid (water, breastmilk, or formula) to soften the Bamba. When they’re older and ready to try new textures (usually over 7 months old) you can give them Bamba right out of the package.
Have fun – and start slowly. Begin with just a taste. Offer a small amount on the tip of a spoon. Wait 10 minutes. Watch your baby closely during this time. If there’s no reaction, then slowly give the rest.
Be sure you can spend at least 2 hours after your baby eats to carefully watch them for signs of an allergic reaction, including:
- Rash or hives
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Swelling of the lips or tongue
- Coughing or wheezing
- Starting to look sick
If any of these occur, call your pediatrician or 911 immediately.
If your baby had no reaction, keep feeding them peanut products 2 to 3 times per week to help reduce the chance of an allergy developing.
Resources for Parents:
American Academy of Pediatrics
Food Allergy Reactions
My Doctor Online
Safely Introduce Peanut Foods to Your Baby (4 Months and Older)
About the Author
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