Researchers analyzed the medical records of approximately 120,000 children younger than three, comparing groups before and after changes in medical guidelines and recommendations. These encouraging findings come nearly a decade after health organizations began encouraging the earlier introduction of peanut-containing foods into babies’ diets, a major shift from the previous advice to wait until children were three years old.
The catalyst for this change was the 2015 Learning Early About Peanut Allergy (LEAP) study, which demonstrated that letting children as young as four months old try peanuts reduced their risk of developing allergies.
"This monumental public health effort in food allergies appears to be having an effect," stated David Hill, an attending allergist at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and senior author of the Pediatrics study. He noted the tangible impact: "For every 300 children with food allergies, at least one is being spared from developing a peanut allergy.” While this is promising news—given that about 5.8% of U.S. children had a food allergy in 2021—Hill also emphasized that parents of children who currently have allergies should not feel "left behind," as the underlying causes still need further research.
Expert Advice on Introducing Peanuts and Other Allergens
When and How to Introduce Peanuts
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) advises parents to start with a diluted, small amount of peanut-containing food and then wait 10 minutes to watch for a reaction.
Medical providers suggest options like
- Peanut butter thinned with breast milk or formula.
- Peanut butter pureed into a food your child already eats.
- A peanut-made puffed corn snack (like Bamba).
Before introducing any allergen, pediatricians recommend that infants meet developmental milestones, such as being able to hold their head up and having good oral motor control.
"When babies are developmentally ready, that's the time to start introducing allergenic foods like peanuts," according to pediatric allergist Zachary Rubin.
Babies with eczema are at a higher risk of developing a food allergy, and some may benefit from an even earlier introduction under the guidance of a pediatrician. Rubin likens the early immune system to "plasticky" before it "hardens," suggesting early intervention may prevent an allergy from developing, though it's not a 100 percent guarantee.
Food allergies don't just affect the body; they take a mental toll. Studies show affected children are more prone to anxiety and a lower quality of life. Ruchi Gupta, director of the Center for Food Allergy and Asthma Research at Northwestern University, summarized the daily stress, saying, "Children can’t be carefree, and for parents it’s very stressful because allergies influence where families can go: from restaurants to sporting events to social activities.”
What Symptoms Indicate an Allergic Reaction?
Experts say most infants won't have a reaction the first time they try a new allergen.
Common symptoms that appear within minutes of eating include:
- Hives, redness, or a rash.
- Vomiting or appearing uncomfortable.
A mild reaction might involve a few scattered hives or brief, mild stomach pain that resolves quickly.
Severe reactions are less common but require immediate emergency attention. Call 911 if a child has:
- Trouble breathing or persistent coughing.
- Swelling of the tongue.
- If the infant turns pale or blue.
For mild symptoms, an over-the-counter antihistamine (such as diphenhydramine/Benadryl or cetirizine/Zyrtec) may help, but consult your pediatrician first.
If more than one body system is affected (e.g., skin and respiratory or gastrointestinal), it's considered a severe reaction. In this case, doctors recommend using epinephrine if available and immediately seeking emergency care.
“If you’re scared and you feel like you can’t manage it at home, don’t hesitate to call,” advised Sara Anvari, director of clinical trials and translational research in the Food Allergy Program at Texas Children’s Hospital.
0 Comments