Introducing Nuts to your Baby. When is it safe to introduce nuts to your Baby?

 

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When can Baby Eat Nuts?

 

One of the most confusing issues about introducing solids to your baby is when to introduce foods that are considered allergens. There seems to be little consensus within the medical community concerning appropriate age of introduction for a variety of foods. Introducing nuts to your baby is probably one of the most confusing issues as the recommendations vary greatly.

 

What is the Age that My Baby Can Eat Nuts?

 

Pediatricians will tell you that you should introduce nuts (tree nuts) to your baby between the age of 12 months and 36 months. Oh yes, this is a big and confusing age gap. The reasons for this age gap are as varied as pediatricians.

 

Nuts for the Non-Allergic Baby: There are some pediatricians that feel that is safe to introduce nuts to the non-allergic baby after 12 months of age. The non-allergic baby is defined as a baby who has no family history of nut or other food allergies and/or sensitivities.

 

Nuts for the Allergic Baby: Pediatricians recommend introducing nuts at a later age, betwen 24 and 36 months of age, for the allergic baby. The allergic baby is one who has a family history of allergies and who may have already shown a food allergy or food sensitivity. For this baby, waiting to introduce nuts may help stave off a nut allergy. We have found a few pediatricians who suggest introducing nuts to the allergic baby after 7 years of age; some even say to never ever introduce nuts.

 

It is very important that you discuss introducing possible allergens to your baby with your baby's pediatrician. Generalities about introducing foods may not apply to your baby.

What types of nuts are considered allergens?

 

There are many types of nuts that may pose an allergy risk. Tree nuts are the nuts that are most often referred to. Tree nuts include, but are not limited to the following:

• Walnuts
• Almonds
• Pecans
• Cashews
• Hazelnuts
• Brazil Nuts
• Pastachios
• Peanuts - not a tree nut

 

What about introducing peanuts to my baby? Are peanuts considered nuts?

 

It may come as a surprise to you to learn that peanuts are NOT nuts at all. Peanuts are actually legumes. Peanuts grow in the ground while "nuts" grow on trees; hence the term "tree nut".

Peanuts are considered the most dangerous of all "nuts" and peanut allergies are very common. As the Mayo Clinic notes:

"Peanut allergy is common and often appears in the first years of life. While many children outgrow allergies to other foods such as milk or eggs, most kids don't outgrow peanut allergy as they get older.

An allergic reaction to peanuts can range from a minor irritation to a life-threatening reaction called anaphylaxis. Even people who have only had a mild reaction in the past are at risk of a more serious future reaction."

As with tree nuts, the recommendations for introducing peanuts to babies and children vary greatly. There are some sources that caution parents not to introduce peanuts to their kids until the children are at least 7 years old; this recommendation is regardless of history of food allergies.

 

So When Should I Introduce Tree Nuts and Peanuts to Baby?

 

You should consult your pediatrician about introducing any kind of food that may be an allergy risk.

There are many parents who introduce nuts at an early age and their babies have no issues. In many cultures around the world, nuts are an important part of the diet and babies are fed them early on. However, there are also many parents who introduce nuts both early and later, only to find their baby develops an allergy.

 

Resources for Learning More About Tree Nuts and Peanuts

• Peanut Allergies - Mayo Clinic
• Peanut & Nut Allergies - Kidshealth.org
• Peanut Allergy Information
• Tree Nut Allergies - Calgary Allergy Nerwork
• Tree Nut Allergy - AllergicChild.com

 

 

 

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