Can you give peanut butter to babies? What the NHS and latest studies say

The study, published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, says there’s a ‘clear window of opportunity’ to expose infants to peanuts – in smooth or baby friendly forms.

In turn, this could reduce the risk of them developing a peanut allergy by up to 77%.

On the other hand, waiting until the child’s first birthday to introduce products with the ingredient into their diets would lead to just a 33% reduction.

According to Allergy UK, peanut allergies affect one in 50 children in the UK with an upward trend.

Because symptoms can range from mild (such as a runny nose or itching tongue) to severe anaphylaxis – which can be fatal if adrenaline isn’t administered – feeding infants legumes can be a daunting prospect for parents.

Previous advice also recommended avoiding peanuts, which ‘understandably led to parental fears of early introduction,’ according to Professor Graham Roberts, who led the study.

In his view, encouraging parents to introduce babies to peanuts could be a ‘simple, low cost intervention’ that would deliver ‘vast benefits’ for future generations.

If you’re considering having your little one try them out, here’s how to do so as safely as possible.

Whole nuts and peanuts are not to be given to children under five years old due to potential choking hazards.

However, official guidance states that you can ‘give your baby nuts and peanuts from around six months old,’ as long as they are crushed, ground or in the form of a smooth butter.

You may be worried about a potential allergic reaction, so a cautious approach is best to begin with.

Source of data and images: metro