To reduce the risk of peanut allergy, babies should be given peanut early – some at four months old, suggests a US guidance.
Studies have shown the risk of peanut allergy can be cut by more than 80% by early exposure.
Instead of whole peanuts, which are choking hazards, the guidelines suggest options like watered-down peanut butter or easy-to-gum peanut-flavored “puff” snacks.
Parents are often cautious about introducing peanut and in the past have been advised to wait until the child is three years old.
The recommendations released on Thursday suggest
Babies with mild eczema should have peanut-containing food at about six months old
Those with no eczema or allergies can have peanut-containing food freely introduced
Children with other allergies or severe eczema should start on peanut-containing foods at between four and six months old, with medical supervision.
“We expect that widespread implementation of these guidelines by healthcare providers will prevent the development of peanut allergy in many susceptible children and ultimately reduce the prevalence of peanut allergy in the United States,” said Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
Researchers noticed a higher rate of peanut allergy among Jewish children in Britain, who aren’t given peanut products during infancy, compared to those in Israel, where peanut-based foods are common starting around age seven months.
Then in 2015, an NIH-funded study of 600 babies put that theory to the test and found the results.