Peanut Butter/Almond Butter Question

hi J.,
I have been feeding my 16 month old peanut butter and jelly since he was 12 months without any problems. When you give it for the first time just watch her for facial swelling, rash/hives and wheezing when she breathes. If that happens give her Benadryl. I would also find out what dose of Benadryl is appropriate for her before you give her nut butters just to be careful. I bet that she will be fine. Good Luck,
Jenn

HI!

We eat more almond butter than peanut butter, just seems more healthy. My daughter, now 21 months has been eating the nut butters since about age 15 months. NEVER from a spoon, that is a choking hazard. She likes it spread THIN and microwaved on a tortilla. I put choco-chips on my half and don't share that side with her. Cut into centimeter square size pieces. Too good!

My son loves it too. He is 4.5. He is onto me now, that I put chocolate on my side!

H.

Hi J.,

As long as there is no history of peanut allergies in your family, it's fine to introduce peanut or almond butter as early as 1 year. Recent research hit the press a few weeks ago that said waiting to introduce potentially allergenic foods doesn't lessen the chance of allergies, and may actually increase it.

A couple of things to note: almond products are much less allergenic than peanut products, so if you're nervous, start with almond butter (and spread lightly to start--just for choking reasons). Also make sure it's made from roasted, not raw nuts (eliminates salmonella risk). Most stores only carry almond butter made from roasted nuts, but Trader Joe's carries a raw version. Of course, watch for signs of allergy the first couple of times. My daughter ate both almond and peanut butter at 1 year with no problems--though we don't have nut allergies in either of our families. Also certain ethnic groups have greater risk.

J.

We have been giving our 21 month old Sunbutter. It's made from sunflower seeds. He eats it with jam on a sandwich and as a dip with apples. No fear of allergy and it has protein and high mineral content, as well as good oils. Almond butter should be fine if she's had some almonds already. Great nutrients in it. I would avoid peanut butter for a while. You don't want her to develop a sensitivity by having longer exposure. Peanuts are over rated. And, are full of mold anyway and some scientists think the mold/yeasts are responsible for cancer. Do an online search about peanuts and mycotoxins. You'll be surprised that this childhood fav. is not the best choice. Go for almond, or pecan butter and Sunbutter is awesome! You may want to introduce your child to peanut butter at some point in case she gets some somewhere. At least you'll already know that she doesn't have an allergy.

The reaction to a food doesn't always happen the first time they eat it. Some allergies arise after the 2nd and 3rd time they eat the food. I've had friends whos kids had a big reaction to a food and they were certain it wasnt the cause because they'd had it before, but their pediatritian said otherwise. So if she's had nutbreads more than a few times and did fine she probably is ok with that. Peanuts,peas, and garbonzo beans, can be different so slowly try them to make sure and be prepared just in case. We were told our grand daughter should wait until after 1 to try peanutbutter just because of the younger gag reflex on a child that age. The biggest thing we did was to spred the peanutbutter very thin so she just gets a taste of it. We arent going for a full serving of protien at this stage, just introducing a new flavor. You also need to watch how your child handles foods in thier mouth. Does she drool as she chews and let foods fall out often? Its a "tongue thrust" thing. She may not be able to hold the food and swallow it for a few more months. If she chews and swallows and has no problem with other foods then in general a thin layer of peanutbutter will be handled well too. Just dont give them a big fat gooey glob that can stick to the roof of their mouth and gag them. And maybe add some jelly to thin it down if you want them to have that flavor too.

Most pediatricians seem to recommend not trying things like nuts, honey, peanut butter, etc. until after the child is a year old. I'm not sure what makes one year a 'magical' number, but suspect it may have to do with the fact that the child is more mobile by that time, and has already had some solid foods introduced to get the system ready for these harder to digest things.
As with any other foods, take it slow the first time or two, and introduce only one new food at a time so if an allergic reaction does occur, you'll know what caused it.

I waited (mostly) till my little girl was a year old to give her nuts. However, except for peanut butter, they don't really seem to digest whole nuts before 18 months or so (when you wash cloth diapers, you learn things). At nearly 2, she digest nuts fine and loves to eat them, from peanuts to "amy nuts" (macadamias) to cashews to you name it.

I was told no peanut butter till age 2. I never give my kids butter. My feeling is if they don't know what it is why give it to them.

Good luck,

SAHM/zombie 40 years old with 2 amazing funny boys. 3.5yrs & 10mos who doesn't like to sleep. I laugh at all things my kids say and do.

My kids were both accidentally given pb by an older cousin around 2yrs... No allergies run in our families, so we just watched closely... I think if you have a family hist. of allergies, you're supposed to wait until 3 for the big ones: peanuts, strawberries and types of fish... but my pedi said it was fine if there wasn't a reaction and so we started giving them pb after that and now it's one of their favorite things. My three yr old was making himself pb crackers with ritz crackers this weekend and I caught him literally with his hand in the pb jar... fortunately it was almost empty, but it now has HIS name on it. :) I"m one of those parents who feels sorry for those who do have peanut allergies because my kids would starve! :) Good luck!

I have 2 daughters with one of them being severely allergic to all nuts. She was 2 when she had her first exposure and had an immediate reaction. With the 2nd one we were extremely careful and decided to not introduce nuts to her. We waited until after her 2nd birthday and did a blood test that tests for food allergies (she tested negative).

Check with your pedi! My 2 yo son can eat any tree nuts/products, but he has a mild (stage I) allergy to peanuts. Our old pedi was fine with 18 mos old for nut products, while our new one suggests 3 years as the magic number. Please do not, as I did, assume that she may not have allergy issues since "she has eaten bread with nuts in it."
My son was fine with almond butter as early as 18 months - a light spread on bread did not induce any choking/gagging.

GL

I started my boys on pnut butter when they were really young. 29 years ago there wasn't as much paranoia about allergies, so I didnt think twice about giving them peanut butter. I'd say spread some on an apple slice and let him have it. Just know what to look for if there is an allergic reaction.

I am a little concerned about some of the posts I am reading. Just because a child eats PB once and doesn't have a reaction, doesn't mean he/she will never become allergic. You become allergic to certain things by being exposed to them. The more you are exposed, the more chance you have of becoming allergic.

Also, you can become allergic to any legumes, tree nuts or seeds. I agree that peanuts are highly allergenic and should be avoided early in life, but I think it is important to note that no nut butters are totally safe. You can become allergic to anything! Believe me! In addition to wheat dairy, soy, corn, shellfish, nuts, etc., I'm allergic to carrots and apples! Weird but it can happen. I had an undiagnosed gluten intolerance which caused me to become allergic to many foods.

This is a very complicated topic so talk to your doctor (some are more up to date on this stuff than others!) and do your own reading especially if allergies seem to run in your family.

Here is a great article (there are several on this site): http://www.nutramed.com/children/food_allergy.htm

Another:
http://www.healthwatchcenter.com/2007/11/most-common-food...

Take care!

She'll be 2 and hasn't had any yet?? I think that would actually increase the possibility of being allergic if she never has any in the first few years then she hits a green light and starts eating nut butter all the time for sandwiches, etc. Overdoing it is what causes a lot of allergies from what I've seen. (both food and pet/environmental allergies)

What I'd do is go ahead and let her have some occasionally in a safe form (ie, spread thin on something, or cooked into a cookie or etc) if you're worried about choking. Slowly increase the amount as you see her being able to handle it. I cant imagine peanut butter sandwiches (either crackers or bread) could cause choking (unless you put a big dollop on it???)

Also want to say that if your kid does not like something (for my husband it's fish and milk, for my son it's peanut butter and milk) even if they dont seem to be allergic to it, if they naturally avoid eating certain foods, it may very well be because their bodies does not tolerate it well. My husband often will get sick (diahrrea) after eating seafood, so no he will not eat fish. I dont think that is an allergy but more of a sensitivity? Milk also upsets his stomach. I personally was never big on drinking milk growing up so when our son did not want milk as a baby or toddler, I did not push it! Water is what all of us prefer to drink and it's good for us so, fine. It just didnt help my son gain any weight, oh well.
I wished my son would eat peanut butter since it would have made feeding him a lot easier. When he had late lunch in kindergarten, I did not want to send ham sandwiches not knowing how long it would stay cold, so I made Nutella sandwiches. Over the school year, I gradually mixed PB into the Nutella until by the end of the school year, it was 2/3 to 3/4 peanut butter with nutella. Now he will eat peanut butter fine, just not often. He will also occasionally ask for a glass of milk but still prefers his cereal dry, prefers to drink water, etc. As long as he gets his nutrients from other things (yogurt, dark green vegs, etc etc) fine.

Sorry so long. J., I hope you dont feel I'm targeting you, just saying what I think and have observed and sharing with you and all the others who'll read this.

I believe for peanut butter the age is 3, though my kids had some sooner. Peanut issues aren't just about allergies though. Small children cannot digest raw peanuts even without an allergy. My son got ahold of a peanut at 1 yr old and immediately threw up all over. He does not have a peanut allergy.

You should be fine to have your little girl try the nut butters...My girls both tried peanut butter at about 1 year and it is now a constant lunch request (they are 19 months and 2 years 8 months old now).
Please just be careful and watch for any allergy reactions.
Good luck!

Hi,
Peanuts are not really nuts they grow under ground and are legumes Peanut allergys are more common now and so you should watch your child very closly when you introduce peanuts. Kids who are allergic to peanuts are often not allergic to nuts. As far as choking, tiny bits of bread with the spread on it are best incase your child wants to eat a lot with out chewing well. kids are different, 4 is generally the age kids are thought to be able to chew well and eat higher risk foods like hot dogs, but any one can choke even an adult, if they do not chew their food properly

Hi J.,

I love your info, first off - because our daughter is the light of our lives too! :) Aren't they just wonderful?

As far as the nut issue - I'd hold off on peanuts and peanut products till after age 3 for best results in not triggering a peanut allergy (which can be nasty and even deadly for some). Nut butters are convenient but not a necessary part of a child's diet - in fact, my daughter (who is now 4 1/2) never really cared for PB as yet, and gets plenty of protein in other ways. We like PB and almond butter (h and I) but it's not a big part of our everyday life. If our daughter gets to like it later, fine, if not - she's not missing out on anything. :)

I have known more than one family whose kid or kids have peanut allergies (one has to have an EpiPen at school!) so I tend to be cautious about peanut introductions too early. If you do decide to go for it, trial it carefully for at least a week and look for reactions before you make your decision about whether it's a good thing for your child or not (her liking or disliking it doesn't really indicate whether she may have a bad reaction to it).

Good luck!

S. M.

my little guy is 13 months and has been eating peanut butter waffles (warm, melty, and sandwiched and sliced into stripes) for a few months now. It's my 4 year olds breakfast of choice too.

3 years old, not younger, children choke and any nut butter should not be given till 3 years. I have attended a funeral of a 22 month old who choked on a peanut butter sandwich..so sad.

My little girl is 1 year, 5 months. I've been letting her have a spoon with peanut butter since she was just over a year. She has been exclusively breat fed and then has been eating bite-size pieces of what ever the family is eating (no baby food). She has been slowly weaning herself from breast feeding. I've been giving her mainly water, but also milk, horchata, punch, etc., in a sippy cup. She loves the peanut butter.