Peanut butter for 1 year old ok?

bridetobe6808

I forgot to talk about PB at Doc appt. yesterday. Is it ok to introduce to LO now that she is 1? It seems so sticky to me...This whole transitioning from bottle to Milk and less baby food to more solid food is freaking me out! She basically feeds herself but I do still give her some baby food. I'm honestly feeling a little panicked.

memali26

We gave PB at a year with DD1, and probably 10 or 11 months with DD2 since we're sure she was touched by her sister's peanut butter covered fingers a million times by then  

If you're worried about the sticky factor being a choking hazard, just make sure it's a thin layer and not a big gob. You can also spread it on warm toast, which makes it melt a little and it isn't so thick. 

MrsNole

Our pedi said PB was ok after we had our 1 year check up.  If you have any doubts call your pedi.  As far as it being sticky, just make sure you spread it thin (if you make a PBJ).

DawnJM25

Our pedi gave the okay for PB at the 9 mo appt. as long as there's no reason to suspect that DD would have an allergy (ie- immediate family members with an allergy).  I never thought about the sticky factor as a choking hazard, honestly.  I started giving PB and J sandwiches or PB on toast around 10-11 mo and she does fine.

beachgirl24

I would recommend calling your pedi before you give LO peanut butter.  We just had our 12 month appointment and she specifically told us no peanut butter or shellfish.   LO has no known food allergies so I figured it was just a blanket recommendation that she makes with all 1 year olds.  Of course all pedis have different recommendations so I would think it would be best to call yours.

dairygirl19

Mine said PB was okay as soon as she had the reflex to swallow it.

My pedi is kind of alternative in the food allergy camp though and swears if you give it early, it decreases the allergy risk.

Whatever, but I did it at like 9 months without an issue. It's now a staple for her. I just do a think layer on toast, cracker etc. She loves it!

rnbeth477

We started giving pb and j sandwiches at 12 months. DS had no troubles.

Suesse2009

beachgirl24:

I would recommend calling your pedi before you give LO peanut butter.  We just had our 12 month appointment and she specifically told us no peanut butter or shellfish.   LO has no known food allergies so I figured it was just a blanket recommendation that she makes with all 1 year olds.  Of course all pedis have different recommendations so I would think it would be best to call yours.

Yeah I would call your pedi.  Ours says to wait till 2 for peanut butter.   

hisaak

I try to limit mess as much as possible (I know, impossible!) so I introduces it in a thin smear between two crackers with both my kids.  DS was fine, DD not so much ... So now we are peanut free.

NithyaV

My friend is a pedi allergist and said you can give it as early as 6 months (smooth) if there are no food allergies in family members (through baby's uncles/aunts).  The new thinking is the earlier the better.  We didn't have any so we gave it starting at 6 months (we did BLW so she's never been on purees) and she loves it.  

 Plus, once you know there is no allergy, she recommended giving it "frequently" (once a week) to help prevent an allergy.  DD usually got PB at least once a week since and has had no issues.  

 FWIW, DD loves PB and it makes a great, filling snack. 

pitterpatter129

Ask your pedi's advice on this one.  Ours said 2 years.  We gave it 1 year anyhow.  We have zero family background of peanut allergies, not even in the extended family, and our child is extrememly allergic!  Now we have an epipen!  It's just one of those things.  If you do decide to give it, do it at home with benedryl nearby.  Our LO did fine the first few times and gradually developed an allergy.  By the third time there were severe hives.  Now, even if he eats something manufactured in the same plant as peanuts he gets hives!  I'd say just tread carefully with the peanut introduction.

 

 

MrsAery-to-be

DS accidentally got into PB at about 1 yr. I didn't think much of it right away since he ate everything we did and never had a reaction or trouble with any other food. Well, an hour later his eyes were red and puffy and his lips and cheeks swelled up. He had a moderate allergic reaction, not enough to be life threatening right away but enough to make him very uncomfortable. We gave him Benadryl at the recommendation of our pedi and that helped. Some kids can have a reaction and then out grow it. We had a blood test done at 18 months to confirm he is still moderately allergic to peanuts. We will retest him at 3 yrs to see if he out grows it. Until then, no peanuts/peanut products for him. When you introduce it, watch baby closely to see if there is any reaction. Also, I would ask my pedi what to do if something shows up, such as give Benadryl or what, so that you can be prepared.

Snapdragon750

As far as allergies go, you can treat peanut butter however you treat any other highly allergenic food.  HOWEVER, pb is a serious choking hazard, not necessarily because they are super likely to choke on it, but because if they do, you cannot get it out.  Emergency personnel have to race to your house and do a trach.

I learned this during my CPR training and it scared me sh*tless about peanut butter.  Our trainer said that kids choking on peanut butter is their biggest problem.  This is usually a problem with older kids (mostly boys) eating peanut butter sandwiches (with no jelly) too fast, though, and if you just put a tiny bit on a cracker it's probably fine.  I'd add a little jelly to be safe, or use almond butter, cashew butter, or any other kind of "slimier" butter, though they are more expensive.

JameyR

Our pedi said no PB until she is 2...said it was still tough on the digestive system and that there are plenty of other things she can eat instead until then. 

blu-eyedwife

Snapdragon750:

As far as allergies go, you can treat peanut butter however you treat any other highly allergenic food.  HOWEVER, pb is a serious choking hazard, not necessarily because they are super likely to choke on it, but because if they do, you cannot get it out.  Emergency personnel have to race to your house and do a trach.

I learned this during my CPR training and it scared me sh*tless about peanut butter.  Our trainer said that kids choking on peanut butter is their biggest problem.  This is usually a problem with older kids (mostly boys) eating peanut butter sandwiches (with no jelly) too fast, though, and if you just put a tiny bit on a cracker it's probably fine.  I'd add a little jelly to be safe, or use almond butter, cashew butter, or any other kind of "slimier" butter, though they are more expensive.

I'm not even joking, but this is exactly what happened when I was in pre-school.  The little boy across from me was rushing to finish his peanut butter (no jelly) sandwich so we could do something else (I remember someone coming like a guest speaker or something, but it could have just been so he could go on the jungle gym).  He started choking and died while being life-flighted to the nearest hospital. 

DH thinks I'm neurotic about the no peanut butter only sandwich, but there's method to my madness.

 

All that being said, we introduced peanut butter shortly after he turned one.

dsunde1

Yes. It's okay. I was told as long as it's lightly spread. I like to put quite a but of jelly (all natural fruit spread to be specific) on it and I think she likes it better with the crust cut off (and use whole wheat, of course) and cut it up into about six squares (that way if she throws some on the floor it's not the whole sandwich!). I have actually increased the amount of PB I put on it because she does fine with it and always have a sippy of water on her tray because peanut butter makes us thirsty! The whole transition thing freaked me out at first, too, because I thought she was going to choke since she only have two teeth at the time! Just stay close by, of course. P.S. it is very messy to clean up, so have a wet rag for clean up at the end and hopefully you LO will not put her sticky hands in her hair as my DD does lots of times! Oh, at this point she's not eating much meat so PB&J is a daily meal for her along with scrambled eggs and bean & cheese whole-wheat tortillas as her proteins!