Peanut butter and honey

Chunstad · October 2012

Isn't it funny how different Pedi's have different advice? The other day I introduced a bit of peanut butter to C. He got slight pink spots around the mouth, and later on in the day, pink on his bottom after he passed his BM. When I discussed this with the Pedi, he said that he normally doesn't suggest peanut butter until 18 months. But yet honey is okay. I remember our last conversation about honey, some Pedi's suggested 2 years. What the eff?!

Anyways, have you introduced peanut butter and/or honey? Any side effects? I'm nervous about introducing honey.

ellewoodsSC · October 2012

I've pretty much consistently heard raw honey is ok after 1 year (and the pedi also brought it up), so I don't think you should worry about it.

We're planning on holding off on peanut butter for now until DD is 18 m, mainly because she has eczema so I am more concerned about her being more sensitive to allergens

lkm2006 · October 2012

We have done peanut butter.. Actually by accident. I had a peanut butter sandwich and gave him a bite, then immediately freaked of course.

He's had it several times since with no reactions. Haven't tried honey yet.

blu-eyedwife · October 2012

We've introduced both without issue so far.

But with the honey, I don't think it's the same as allergens, technically you take a risk with each new bottle, right? Although I've also heard (maybe from smit? Dr. Worm?) that the bacteria(?) enzymes(?) that make the botulism less of an issue are in place by the age of one.

KrisM86 · October 2012

We introduced peanut butter a week or so ago and DD had had it several times since with no issues. We haven't done any honey yet, but my pedi says it's fine now too.

It is odd how much the recommendations vary.

btsrc5 · October 2012

I talked to our pedi about PB and honey at DD's 1 yr appointment. I told him I was terrified to give her PB (we have no history of allergies, but I was just scared DD would have a reaction). he went and got her a cracker with some PB and gave it to her in the office. After waiting a while, he said she was fine and we were in the clear for PB. He said at this point we can give her anything- no limitations for honey or anything else.

LCass · October 2012

btsrc5:
I talked to our pedi about PB and honey at DD's 1 yr appointment. I told him I was terrified to give her PB (we have no history of allergies, but I was just scared DD would have a reaction). he went and got her a cracker with some PB and gave it to her in the office. After waiting a while, he said she was fine and we were in the clear for PB. He said at this point we can give her anything- no limitations for honey or anything else.

This is annoying, because in general a reaction won't happen the first time you have the allergen. Your DD might have no problem with peanut butter, but him giving her a small taste at the office doesn't prove that you're "in the clear". If there are no allergies in the family and she doesn't have excema, you're probably okay, though. But don't dismiss nuts if in future there's a reaction.

We were told by Public Health (and I read in several places) that the only thing to worry about unless you have a risk factor for allergies is honey. In fact, new research suggests that waiting too long can increase the risk of developing an allergy. Lily's been having peanut butter for several months now. We were holding off on honey but once she hit one year I wasn't as concerned (not about to go pour honey down her throat but not freaking out if I accidentally gave her some) and the other night I didn't think about it when I made bbq chicken with a honey garlic bbq sauce. There's no magic switch at exactly 1 year of age that makes it safe, it's just that in general their digestive systems are ready to handle the potential spores.

Chunstad · October 2012

Interesting, thanks for sharing, ladies! I love honey, and I'm excited to use it in cooking again. Personally I love toast with peanut butter and honey on top of it. Then there's Greek yogurt with honey on top. Spicy, you can always take a tip from Crystal and put a spoonful of the peanut butter in his oatmeal to up his protein intake.

On another allergy note, my DH is allergic to tree nuts. Pedi suggested waiting until C is 3 to start tree nut items. Like the pp said, waiting longer sometimes might create the allergy?

LCass · October 2012

Chunstad:

On another allergy note, my DH is allergic to tree nuts. Pedi suggested waiting until C is 3 to start tree nut items. Like the pp said, waiting longer sometimes might create the allergy?

From what I understand, that's when there are no other risk factors. Your DH's allergy is a risk factor, therefore it's safer to wait. Then again, I honestly think that they actually have no clue what's going on with all the allergies and all of these suggestions are just guesses. And my SIL, who just got her masters in nutrition, was saying that there are also theories that a lot of it is related to giving kids way too much of one thing while they're young (e.g. pb&j sandwiches - peanut allergy later, milk with every meal and then some - lactose intolerance, lots of bread and pasta - have to avoid gluten later on, etc.).

morsey2011 · October 2012

Our pedi told us honey was ok, but she recommended to wait until around 3 for peanut butter. She said not so much for fear of an allergy, but because of the choking hazard.

diego299 · October 2012

Graydon stole another kids pb&j sandwich at daycare about a month ago. I haven't given him PB but he didn't have any issues so I think he's good. He also stole someones sippy with WCM about 2months ago, the kids like a food ninja.

Chunstad · October 2012

LCass:
Chunstad:

On another allergy note, my DH is allergic to tree nuts. Pedi suggested waiting until C is 3 to start tree nut items. Like the pp said, waiting longer sometimes might create the allergy?

From what I understand, that's when there are no other risk factors. Your DH's allergy is a risk factor, therefore it's safer to wait. Then again, I honestly think that they actually have no clue what's going on with all the allergies and all of these suggestions are just guesses. And my SIL, who just got her masters in nutrition, was saying that there are also theories that a lot of it is related to giving kids way too much of one thing while they're young (e.g. pb&j sandwiches - peanut allergy later, milk with every meal and then some - lactose intolerance, lots of bread and pasta - have to avoid gluten later on, etc.).

LCass, I agree with you about the guesses. They probably take those theories and make their 'educated guesses'. You can tell if they are more conservative or not with their guesses. Also, your SIL brought up a good theory that I never thought of. Another good reason to give C a wide variety of things.

Diego, I love your food ninja's boots in your siggy!

jeannkerricotober09 · October 2012

My pedi said no peanut butter until 2 but if we can hold off, 3 is much better. Which is weird because they are so hippie. Cosleeping, EBF, alternate vaccination schedule, etc. But they are really strict on no peanut butter until 2. She said the earlier you introduce, the more likely an allergy will crop up later in toddlerhood. She said there is a lot of research being done on it right now and they just changed their stance the last few months, based on it. Prior, they said 1 year old. I haven't asked about honey. We don't eat raw honey so there's no rush in our household.

I didn't think honey was an allergy issue, I thought it was bacteria that their systems couldn't handle Though, I could be way wrong.

ETA: she also told to to scrutinize ingredient lists to be sure there were NO nuts being introduced at all before 2 (but hopefully 3). I have 2 cousins and 1 friend who all have no family history of nut allergies and all 3 were offered peanut butter around 1 only to develop serious (epi pen necessary) allergies around 4. So I am listening to her and being even more careful about checking labels

LCass · October 2012

jeannkerricotober09:
I didn't think honey was an allergy issue, I thought it was bacteria that their systems couldn't handle Though, I could be way wrong.

Nope, you're right. It's about botulism, which their bodies can't deal with when they're really young. But it doesn't matter if it's cooked or raw; heat doesn't kill the spores.

mamaZbo · October 2012

DD has had PB, I actually packed her PB and banana sandwich for daycare today. I have not deliberately given her honey, but I am not actively trying to avoid it either.

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