Anyone give their child peanut butter before two/three?

Victoria5/13/06 · December 2010

I am at a loss for what to give my toddler. He has no interest in meat at all (I try all types) and linited vegetables. I want something healthy for him. I was eating pb the other day and got up to get a drink and he took a very small bite. I grabbed it away but he really liked it. My doc said 3 years old.

emmared1986 · December 2010

I've been giving peanut butter since 10 months old. No issues. 3 years seems excessive. If you need protein ideas try beans, edamame, eggs, or tuna.

JandR07 · December 2010

We started PB a few weeks ago but there no are no food allergies in any of our families.

Beckypooh09 · December 2010

I give my LO peanut butter on toast or pancakes. He loves it!

fairychick77 · December 2010

Does your family have a history of allergies?

I gave DS PB when he was 12 mos old.

twh2006 · December 2010

I've given both pb and almond butter to my kiddo and no issues at all. But my doc said you could at 1.

If you need protein ideas you can make lentil sloppy joes, or a sammie with cream cheese and banana or anything with the cream cheese really. Lennon loves those.

Victoria5/13/06 · December 2010

Thanks. He will do eggs and bananas but hates tuna and edamame. I think it is texture think with him. He is 19 months now btw.

kelbrian · December 2010

She first had PB a couple of days before her first birthday. She loves it.

You could also try sun butter, which is made from sunflower seeds, if you aren't comfortable with it. Soy butter is also an option, or coconut butter.

Cream cheese is also another good way of getting in protein. DD loves cream cheese and jam sandwiches, or cream cheese and avocado. Beans are also a huge hit, too.

Victoria5/13/06 · December 2010

Thanks. No history of pb allergies. He had mild dairy sensitivity and eczema.

BetsyDavis · December 2010

My daughter is not supposed to have any before 5 years due me having a nut allergy. I would go with your doctor there's a reason they want you to wait. If you give to soon your child may develop an allergy where as if you had waited you child may not. Also an allergic reaction is just the body over reacting. Your son may not have an reaction the first time or the first few times but that does not mean he is not allergic. Sometimes it takes a few times to see because the chemicals have to build up and it can turn in a serve reaction quick and your son may not be able to handle this young. Your son could also be fine but introducing before the body is ready like I said can create an allergy. So I would recommend waiting and talking to your child's pedi about other options on how to get your child to eat healthy.

Victoria5/13/06 · December 2010

Great ideas thank you.

christiney06 · December 2010

we tried it right around a year b/c DS is a picky eater and was on a meat strike, so we were looking for protein options. we have no allergy history either so we did a small amount on toast. he loved it, so i kept giving it to him. about the 5th time he had it, he broke out in hives. he tested positive for having a peanut allergy which sucks!

bim38106 · December 2010

DD1 started it at 18 months. She doesn't really like it though....well, she loves organic chocolate PB (it actually has less sugar in it then regular) but we use that as a treat w/ bananas on occasion.

Pedi told us all was a go at 12 months for DD2, but I just haven't started it...

Did your pedi say why wait until 3? If there's a history of allergies in the family, then I'd wait. Otherwise, that's oldschool thinking.

FWIW though, I spoke to a nutritionist who said that BP really wasn't a healthy alternative at all. She said the amount of protein in there, per serving, was very minimal.

I know PP mentioned some alternatives...have you tried hummus? Both my girls love it

brooketini · December 2010

My mother inadvertently gave DD pb when she was 12 months (just a tiny Nutter Butter cookie), and she didn't have a reaction. I waited until 18 months before I gave her more pb and she's done fine.?

penguingrrl · December 2010

I gave it to my first at 16 months and my second at 12 months. My ped is not convinced that avoidance is effective, so she was fine with it. Neither likes pb, which drives me nuts since it's one of my favorite foods!

luvdv8 · December 2010

DD has been having it since about 13 months- there's no history of allergies and she loves it! We get the organic kind that is high in Omega 3 and has slightly more protein. Honestly, it's a great way to get protein in her at breakfast with a high protein bread.

She also likes cream cheese, hummus and beans. She loves chicken. She was resistant to meat until we started giving it to her in more exciting ways (fajitas, pasta sauce, quesadillias, etc). She still wouldn't sit down an deal chunks of steak, but that will come with time.

ohfour · December 2010

I gave it to her around 1 yr. She likes it.

katiekate1974 · December 2010

Yes. He's been eating it since around a year.

CalinsBride · December 2010

Yep, DS eats peanut butter. My Dr. okayed it at one year.

madalynnsmommy09 · December 2010

We started at LO per our pedi.

ivs112 · December 2010

We gave DD peanut butter a little after her 1st birthday.

Quiksilver620 · December 2010

we first gave it to DD when she was about a year and a half without any issue

BlairWaldorf · December 2010

yep.

He loves it.

Lopo · December 2010

We give Luke peanut butter. Started at about 14 months. He loves it.

sarcole530 · December 2010

Bryce got his first taste of peanut butter just before his first birthday. He loves it. He eats peanut butter toast, peanut butter crackers, peanut butter sandwiches, and he's even had bites of a peanut butter cookie. If you give it to your LO now, he/she will be fine.

heatherlane · December 2010

Mine had PB just after a year. Our pedi recommended starting with something small first, like a PB flavored granola bar, etc, and then if there's no reaction give a little more each time.

He loves beans and eggs and that has been fine while he hasn't been interested in meat.

His first molars came in a few weeks ago and since then he has gradually begun eating more and more meat.

T&BMay142005 · December 2010

I have been giving DD peanut butter since 13 months. DD is also not a big meat eater, so I wanted to give her peanut butter for protein. I am so happy that we didn't wait until 2 or 3. DD loves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches! They are her favorite.

Sage Mommy · December 2010

Before 1 y/o. No allergies.

cbwm · December 2010

We gave it to Will when he was 1.

I haven't read the other responses, but there are studies stating that the longer you wait to introduce foods like that, the more likely it is the kid will have an allergy.

kabarbanel · December 2010

Our pedi said 2, so we are waiting til then. My nephew has a severe pb allergy, so I'd rather just hold off a bit longer.

ToBeMrsC6907 · December 2010

Yes, we gave him peanut butter around 11 or 12 months. He likes it.

You could try beans, lentils, eggs (DS loves scrambeled, omelets with veggies, and egg salad), tofu, edamame, cheese, yogurt, veggie-stuff like gardenburgers, etc., fish (tuna, and DS loves salmon)

macchiatto · December 2010

Victoria5/13/06:
Thanks. No history of pb allergies. He had mild dairy sensitivity and eczema.

Ah, that makes more sense then. My boys had eczema and they both have food allergies so our pedi had told us to wait till 2 for PB and 3 for shellfish. Then when they had allergy testing at 15m (as part of a BFing and Child Health study we were in) Will tested positive for a peanut allergy, so now obviously we're not giving it to him and not to Alex till 3. (At this age it would be too hard to avoid cross-contamination; they eat together, put toys in their mouths, etc.)

txbabs111 · December 2010

Our pedi said it was ok at 1 year. DD has had it several times and loves it. We do not have any nut allergies in our families.

ryry1977 · December 2010

I started giving it to him at 1 year...he loves it:)

LeahBeah1212 · December 2010

DD had it around a year. My dr. said it was fine to try. No food allergies in the family, so we thought it would be fine, and so far so good.

Leap08 · December 2010

We haven't tried PB yet, but I think I'm going to give it a try soon. My daughter also isn't a big meat eater (neither am I), but she loves beans (all beans) lentils, cheese, eggs, and full-fat yogurt.

TSD · December 2010

He eats it all the time and has since 1 yr old.

achase123 · December 2010

I waited until 12 months but occasionally I give DS a PB&J sandwich. We have no history of allergies in our family (not sure about XH's side though).

sunnyday016 · December 2010

I've given her peanut butter when we've run out of almond butter. Honestly, we both love the almond butter so much more that PB seems like a weak replacement now.