Peanut Butter--what age to start?

maykat · August 2010

What age did you start giving peanut butter to your little one? Our pedi had always told us to wait until at least age 2. In addition DH, is allergic to nuts (not peanuts, but all other nuts).

I've been reading up on whether it's better to start earlier rather than later--especially when it comes to allergies. My aunt had thought we could start Aerin now on PB..she is 18 months today. I'm going to be asking our pedi again on Friday but thought I would ask here for your thoughts.

Mrs.Guz · August 2010

We started at 1 year, but we don't have a history of food allergies.

dbryson · August 2010

We started at 2 with Ridge but we don't have a history of allergies. My SIL's family does have a history of nut allergies and the Drs said wait until 3.

mrsd0907 · August 2010

We started at 1 year since the pedi said it was fine at his appt. We don't have any history of allergies so he wasn't concerned. Just told us to watch him a day or two after to double check.

tracigator · August 2010

B's former pedi had us wait until 2 years old. We switched pedi's when Noah arrived although it's the same practice. At Noah's 9 month check-up, he said he could have everything except honey, shellfish and anything that was as big as his throat - as far as choking issues. I clarified if that included eggs and peanut butter and he said that new guidelines have come out and he could eat those now. I'm still waiting until he turns 1 for those things though just because it still feels "wrong" to me. We have no food allergies in our family though.

amanda_holbird@hotmail.com · August 2010

Funny you post this because I gave Jack peanut butter for the first time yesterday. He loved it! Ethan was around 2 when I gave it to him. We have no family history of peanut allergy.

slwprincess · August 2010

My mom forgot and accidentally gave him some of her peanut butter sandwich at 10 mos. Luckily, he was fine. Otherwise, I would have waited until at least 12 mos or even 18 mos.

KT&John · August 2010

I think our pedi said 2 years. This is one of the times I just went with my gut and gave it to her at 18 months since there are no known peanut allergies on either side of the family.