Can Babies Outgrow Food Allergies
Will my baby or toddler always be allergic to certain foods? Maybe not. The majority of babies and toddlers who have milk, egg, wheat and soy allergies outgrow them by the time theyre 5 years old.
And surprisingly, about 20 percent of kids with peanut allergies once thought to be lifelong outgrow those too. Shellfish allergies, however, usually last a lifetime.
Never experiment on your own to determine whether your child is no longer allergic: Your pediatrician or pediatric allergist can do a supervised feeding test to make a diagnosis.
Outlook For Children With Peanut Allergy
Unlike many other common food allergies, peanut allergies tend to persist into adulthood. Only about 20 percent of children with peanut allergies will outgrow them.
If repeat allergy testing suggests your child has outgrown their peanut allergy, your child should undergo a supervised test, such as a food challenge, to determine whether its safe to incorporate peanuts into their normal diet.
Next Steps
What To Do If Your Child Has A Peanut Allergy
Avoiding the allergy-triggering food is the number 1 treatment.
Read restaurant menus carefully, ask a lot of questions about ingredients, and request a different preparation if necessary. Peanut is one of the top eight food allergens and will be listed on all packaged and prepared foods.
Create a list of foods your child cant eat, plus some snacks that they can eat, and share that with schools and family friends.
Youll also want to keep epinephrine and diphenhydramine on hand, and be sure your childs school has these too.
As your child matures, you and your allergist will also teach them about their food restrictions and how to ask questions and advocate for themselves.
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Why Should This Guide Be Followed
Recently published studies have shown that the introduction of peanut to infants with severe eczema and/or egg allergy before 12 months can reduce the risk of these infants developing peanut allergy by around 80%.
For all infants, including those with severe eczema and/or existing food allergy, peanut and other solid foods should be introduced around 6 months and in the first 12 months, when developmentally ready, as recommended in the ASCIA guidelines for infant feeding and allergy prevention.
If possible, it is preferable for mothers to continue breastfeeding whilst introducing solid foods to infants, as there is some evidence that this may reduce the risk of allergies developing. There are many other health benefits of continued breastfeeding.
ASCIA guidelines for infant feeding and allergy prevention are available open access on the ASCIA website: www.allergy.org.au/hp/papers/infant-feeding-and-allergy-prevention
Severe Allergic Reactions Anaphylaxis
Very rarely, children can develop anaphylaxis on exposure to peanuts. Anaphylaxis is a life-threatening condition that usually involves sudden difficulty in breathing, swelling of the tongue, and a drop in blood pressure that can lead to collapse and loss of consciousness.
Fortunately, life-threatening peanut allergic reactions are rare.
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Teach Your Child At An Early Age
Anderson and her husband, Rob, started teaching Claire about her allergy when she was a toddler. They used simple language she could understand. “We told her foods with peanuts in them or foods that could have touched other foods could make her sick,” Anderson says.
They had a strict rule about not eating homemade treats from anyone. “The rule was that she always had to check with us first, before eating anything,” Anderson says.
They also helped Claire understand by reading her books about peanut allergies as part of her bedtime story routine. They used a practice injector to help her become comfortable with it.
“There was a lot of repetition, just reiterating the same messages,” Anderson says. “We explained how it would feel if she was having a reaction and made sure she knew to tell us right away if she ever felt those symptoms.”
What If My Child Has A Peanut Allergy
Around 20% of children who have a peanut allergy will grow out of it over time. However, around 20% of cases can also worsen. An allergy specialist will do an allergy assessment and tests to know if your child is allergic to peanut and other foods. They will advise you about how to manage the allergythis will most likely include avoiding all foods with any amount of peanut or that have been in contact with peanut. Talk to your allergy specialist or doctor about having an adrenaline action plan in case of an emergency.
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Delaying Peanut Introduction Led To Peanut Allergy Spike
When many of us were babies, our parents and grandparents fed us solid foods whenever we were ready to eat themeven foods that were common causes of allergies.
According to Dr. Jonathan Spergel , around the 1960s, infants would begin eating foods like peanut products starting at just a few months of age. At that time, food allergy prevalence was very low.
Until the 1990s, doctors also recommended introducing allergy-causing foods like peanut early, in babys first year of life.
But in the late 1990s and early 2000s, doctors changed their approach. They mistakenly thought that delaying the feeding of peanut for several years was the best approach to preventing peanut allergies.
In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics issued a recommendation in 2000, which directed parents to avoid feeding baby peanuts until they reached the age of three, especially if a baby was at high risk for a peanut allergy.
But when these recommendations to delay feeding peanut were introduced, there was no study to support these recommendations. Rather, they were just based on physicians guesses.
As Dr. Spergel explains, Back then, we gave people really bad advice. We told people to avoid food allergens But there was never any evidence for this. It was just based on a few physicians best guess. Theres never been any study that ever proved that food avoidance worked.
Learn more about the rise in food allergies from Dr. Spergel:
Living With Peanut Or Tree Nut Allergy
If allergy skin testing shows that your child has a peanut or tree nut allergy, an will provide guidelines on what to do.
The best way to prevent a reaction is to avoid peanuts and tree nuts. Avoiding these nuts means more than just not eating them. It also means not eating any foods that might contain tree nuts or peanuts as ingredients.
The best way to be sure a food is nut-free is to read the food label. Manufacturers of foods sold in the United States must state on their labels whether the foods contain peanuts or tree nuts. Check the ingredients list first.
After checking the ingredients list, look on the label for phrases like these:
- “may contain tree nuts”
- “produced on shared equipment with tree nuts or peanuts”
Although these foods might not use nut ingredients, the warnings are there to let people know they might contain traces of nuts. That can happen through “cross-contamination,” when nuts get into a food product because it is made or served in a place that uses nuts in other foods. Manufacturers are not required to list peanuts or tree nuts on the label when there might be accidental cross-contamination, but many do.
Some of the highest-risk foods for people with peanut or tree nut allergy include:
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Peanut Butter Allergy Risk Factors
While its possible to prevent the onset of peanut allergies through regular peanut butter consumption, thats not true in all cases. Having a preexisting food allergy boosts the chances of later developing an allergy to peanuts.
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology or ACAAI cites the most common food allergies besides peanuts are those to soy, wheat, shellfish, fish, tree nuts, milk, and eggs. Up to 90 percent of all food allergy reactions come from one or more of these foods.
If you have a family history of food allergies, then theres also a chance your baby may be more likely to develop these, too. In such a situation, or if your baby has a preexisting food allergy, you may want to move their first introduction to peanut butter to your doctor or allergists office.
Its That Important And We Have Your Back
We get it. New parents already have on your plate. But delaying peanut foods even a little has been shown to reduce the impact dramatically. To help, the National Peanut board and partners have assembled these tips, resources and answers to common questions to help you get started with confidence
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Also In Food Allergy Blog
Also Available at
*Learn more at SpoonfulONE.com/USDAGuidelines
If a baby has severe eczema, egg allergy or both, introducing age-appropriate, peanut-containing foods as early as 4 months may reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy. Caregivers should check with the babys healthcare provider before feeding the baby peanut-containing foods.
**In an independently administered nationwide survey of more than 300 U.S. pediatricians, 72% would recommend SpoonfulONE.
WARNING: Do not give SpoonfulONE to a child if the child has a food allergy or is allergic to any ingredient.
References to expert guidelines, professional organizations, or third-party researchers do not constitute or imply the endorsement by such parties of Before Brands products.
Can You Treat A Peanut Allergy
The common assumption about allergies is that you need to avoid contact with the responsible allergen. While this approach will help you avoid an allergic reaction, with peanut traces prevalent in so many products, it is quite difficult to maintain avoidance. If you want to live without worry about accidentally consuming peanuts, you should consider oral immunotherapy treatment.
Oral immunotherapy involves eating small amounts of peanut protein until the immune system builds up a tolerance. The amount of peanuts you eat is gradually increased over the course of a year, desensitizing you to the allergen. Oral immunotherapy has proven to be an effective response to peanut allergies, and is performed by a limited number of experienced allergists.
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How We Care For Peanut Allergies
At the Boston Childrens Hospital Food Allergy Program, our experts treat all types of food allergies, addressing medical, dietary, social and psychological concerns. The clinic is hosted by Boston Children’s Division of Allergy and Immunology, the largest provider of pediatric allergy services in the region.
Evidence Continues To Build About Allergy Prevention
Experts base their recommendations on the groundbreaking LEAP Study, in which early introduction reduced development of a peanut allergy by up to 86 percent. Today, guidelines from the National Institutes of Allergy and Infectious Diseases are endorsed by the American Academy of Pediatricians and championed by healthcare providers everywhere. And evidence continues to grow. In fact, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-25 also encourage early introduction of peanuts and other foods.
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At What Age Can Babies Try Peanut Butter
It used to be advised that babies not be introduced to peanut butter until they were at least one year old, but now, the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends gradually introducing peanuts to infants as young as 4 to 6 months, as long as they have had no issues with any other solid foods that have been introduced earlier. They also warn that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods like peanuts, eggs, and shellfish may actually increase a babys risk of developing allergies. However, they do note that if a sibling has an existing peanut allergy, an allergist should be consulted before introducing peanut butter to an infant.
Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia also warns that infants who have severe eczema, and/or an egg allergy are also at high risk for developing a peanut allergy, so you should contact your healthcare provider before introducing peanuts as they might want to run tests to see if there will be a reaction. For children in this group, a skin prick test or even a blood test can be done to determine if there will be a reaction. They also suggest speaking with a medical professional before introducing peanuts if your baby has even mild or moderate eczema. If your baby has no history of eczema and there are no food allergies in your family you can feel free to introduce peanut butter at home in small amounts.
Helping To Prevent The Development Of Food Allergy In Infants
Recommendations for the introduction of common allergens to infants has changed over the last few years as research has emerged on ways to help prevent the development of food allergy in babies.
In 2019, the Canadian Paediatric Society released on the specific timing of early introduction of allergenic foods for high-risk infants. The new guidance is to actively offer non-choking forms of foods containing common allergens around 6 months of age, but not before 4 months, as this can be effective in preventing food allergy in some high-risk infants.
This represents a dramatic shift from previous advice to parents and caregivers regarding the introduction of common allergens in a childs diet.
Infants who are not considered high risk should start to receive complementary foods when they are around 6 months of age and show signs of developmental readiness.
Please scroll below for information on the introduction of allergenic foods to babies. You will find recorded webinars for parents and healthcare professionals, a frequently asked questions document for parents, and other resources for families and healthcare professionals.
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Get Treatment For A Peanut Allergy
If youre concerned your child has a peanut allergy, dont delay in treating the problem. Dr. Chacko provides allergy testing and effective treatments for children of all ages. Visit us at one of our food allergy treatment center locations in Alpharetta, Atlanta, Canton, Cumming, Duluth or Johns Creek by calling .
Image Credit Albina Gavrilovic/Shutterstock.com
How To Manage Peanut Allergies
Peanut products can be found in surprising places, such as natural flavorings, candies, sauces, and cereals.
With the possibility of severe allergic reactions, it is essential to eliminate all sources of peanuts and peanut products from your little ones diet if they have been diagnosed with this allergy. Even exposure to trace amounts of peanut proteins can cause a serious allergic reaction.
If your child is allergic to peanuts, they will need to avoid all peanuts and peanut products, often found in many common foods such as:
- Peanut butter and cross-contamination from other nut butters
- Peanut flour
- Mixed nuts and trail mix
- Granola
- Baked goods such as cookies, cakes, and pies
- Ice cream
- African, Asian and Mexican cuisine, where peanuts are commonly used
- Peanut oil that is not highly refined
As one of the nine most common allergens, U.S. federal law requires all packaged food products that contain peanut to state that on the ingredient label. However, it is voluntary for a manufacturer to state if there may be potential cross-contamination as tree nuts and peanuts are often produced using the same equipment. Read ingredient labels closely, and pay close attention to phrases such as may contain peanuts or made in a factory that uses nut ingredients. If you have questions, do not hesitate to contact the manufacturer.
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Tips For Keeping A Baby Or Toddler With Food Allergies Safe
It’s important to let all your child’s caregivers know about his allergies, how to tell if he is having an allergic reaction and what to do if he is exposed to an offending food.
Always keep safe food on hand , and become an expert at reading food labels .
A registered dietitian nutritionist can help you navigate these issues and develop meals that are safe for your baby or toddler to eat.
From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You’re Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy.
- What to Expect the First Year, 3rd edition, Heidi Murkoff.
- What to Expect the Second Year, Heidi Murkoff.
Tips For Introducing Peanut Butter To Your Baby For The First Time
To introduce peanut butter to them for the first time, you want to make sure you have an open schedule on that day. Your baby should be in good health as well. If theyre sick with a fever or they have diarrhea, wait until another time to feed them peanut butter.
Even if its watered down, its suggested you combine the peanut butter with another food your baby can safely eat. Then, start with very small quantities. If your baby is fussy or picky, they may not be receptive to the peanut butter at first. If so, then wait until another mealtime to try again.
Once your baby does eat the peanut butter, you can feed them more if they really want it, but not immediately. Let 10 minutes elapse, during which you should stay close to your child and watch for signs of an infant peanut allergy. If you dont notice any symptoms after 10 minutes, then give them another spoonful. If they seem uncertain if they like it, dont make your baby eat more peanut butter at this time.
When your baby is finished, be close for the next two hours or longer. You want to see if they have an allergic reaction to the peanut butter, and if they do, get them medical attention immediately.
If the first instance of peanut butter consumption goes well for your baby, then continue feeding your baby peanut butter up to three times every week. Each time, they should consume about six grams, which is roughly two teaspoons.
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