When did you start giving peanut butter?

Nichole · January 2nd, 2004, 01:34 PM

I'm just curious when everyone started giving their toddlers peanut butter. I've read conflicting information regarding when to start - some sources say 2 years, some say 3 years. I know that those time frames are related to family history of food allergies, but it seems like a long time to wait.

I ask because Jackson is starting to get a little picky and it would be nice to have another source of protein to give him. He really doesn't like to eat much meat and cheese is hit or miss with him.

So, how old was your toddler when you started pb? Do you have a family history of peanut or other food allergies?

Jillian · January 2nd, 2004, 04:00 PM

Have you tried tahini, it's pretty similar to peanut butter and if he would eat it you could avoid the issue for longer.

We haven't given Janelle any nuts of any sort YET, but are seriously considering starting soon (she is 16 months) because of her weight gain issues. However I probably shouldn't as both dh and I have anaphylactic food allergies (oranges for me red food colouring for dh) and Janelle has a pretty serious allergy to apples...so I know I SHOULD wait the 3 years...but another high fat food would be wonderful!

kim · January 2nd, 2004, 05:18 PM

i gave tony peanut butter at around 10 or 11 months. yea, call me a rebel.
we have no allergies at all in our family. i do not give him real nuts though.

my daycare won't give it to kids under 2 as it's considered a choking hazard.

olcott · January 2nd, 2004, 05:24 PM

Trey got it the first time around 10 months...I gave him some of those ritz peanut butter crackers, and didn't even think about the fact that it had peanut butter..definite blonde moment

he loves peanut butter though, and thats the one thing I can always fall back on, cause he loves it....he's not big on meat either

chefkath · January 2nd, 2004, 06:55 PM

I waited until Brigit was 2 years, actually a little longer (I think she was 26 months.) We don't have any peanut allergies in our families, but I didn't think it was worth taking any chances. I'm so paranoid about things like that! I make our PB myself, with organic peanuts and no salt, so I know she's not getting any trans fats, sugar or icky additives in there.

Our pediatrician actually recommends waiting until age 5 or later, and we had planned to wait that long - but a friend fed Brigit PB by accident. Once we knew she was OK with it, we figured we might as well let her have it!

gulp! · January 2nd, 2004, 10:46 PM

We gave Emma peanut butter when she was about a year old. Neither side of the family has any peanut allergies, so we decided to let her have it. We watched her like a hawk the first time she ate it, and once we saw no reaction, we haven't looked back. Now we ALL eat lots of PBJ sandwiches!!

Mandy · January 3rd, 2004, 12:41 PM

Emma had it for the first time around 11 months. It was just a little bit on our finger. Since then she's had PB crackers (the PB is the filling) and likes those or bites of my PBJ sandwich. We have no allergy issues in our family so I wasn't worried about that. She's done great eating it and really likes it. I think as long as you only do a thin layer, the choking isn't as much of an issue.

kalynnsmom · January 3rd, 2004, 12:45 PM

I talked to her Pedi about it, and since we don't have any family history of any food allergies, we gave it to her at 12 months. This is the only thing she'll eat for lunch. I spread it on very thin and take off the excess. She LOVES it.

tchrgrrl · January 3rd, 2004, 12:55 PM

Our ped suggests waiting until 2 years for families without food allergies and at least 3 years for families with food allergies. We will be waiting 2 years. I use things like cream cheese, tahini, yogurt, and pureed chicken as higher protien/fat spreads on breads, tortillas and crackers.

Connie1222 · January 3rd, 2004, 01:29 PM

I can't remember exactly but I think it was a little after he turned 1. No allergies in our family.

Barb · January 4th, 2004, 10:28 AM

Liam first had peanut butter around 15 months. I was going to wait until he was 2 or 3, and then I read a similiar thread on UB and since we have no history of allergies in our family I went ahead and gave it to him.

Kasi · January 4th, 2004, 11:17 PM

Well, you know the story about MIL, the paci and the pb

And though he had no reaction at the time, I still think I am going to hold off until he is 2 even though we have no food allergies. He does have serious skin allergies though and reacts to everything. I don't want to give his skin any more reason to break out then it already has. I may try the tahini thing...

Nocona · January 5th, 2004, 03:58 PM

Matthew's been eating the crackers with PB in the middle forever (don't know exactly when) and PB&J sandwiches since he was around 12 months??? (guessing here).

Patti · January 8th, 2004, 02:12 PM

I'm going to wait until Owen is 2. In the meantime we use cream cheese and hummus (very high in protein).

Patti

Kris · January 8th, 2004, 10:00 PM

we are waotong until Emma is three before she gets PB I heard that is best but who really knows.

Karri · January 9th, 2004, 03:32 PM

I think Aidan had PB first when he was 13 months old, or so. He isnt a huge fan of it, though. I guess I should've known that after he turned up his nose at tahini. Anyway, we gave it to him b/c his pedi said it was fine...we have no history of food allergies in our families.

Leslie · January 9th, 2004, 04:42 PM

I am comfortable giving it to Ian now, at almost 16 months old. The reason I don't is that he eats pretty well without it. I guess since DH and I don't really eat it much, so it doesn't cross my mind to give it to him. It would be an easy food though! We don't have food allergies, so maybe I will give it a try myself.

Cortney · January 9th, 2004, 06:46 PM

We gave it to Morgan at about 14 months- no food allergies in our family either. She did ok with it, but she doesn't really like it. I'd say she's prob. had it 6 times or so since then.

Eleanor · January 14th, 2004, 11:07 AM

We tried it at 2 years...but she doesn't like it. :shrug: My mom actually has a peanut allergy, but not very severe, and no one else has any food allergies.

Kath · January 14th, 2004, 12:39 PM

We were planning to wait until Chase was 2 years old (he is 15 months right now), even though we have no history of food allergies in our family. Well, he mistakenly was given some at daycare yesterday and has a pretty bad allergic reaction to it!! So.....he definitely won't be getting any again until he's tested for allergies after age 2!!

January 2nd, 2004, 01:34 PM	#1
Nichole srsly? Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 16,344	When did you start giving peanut butter? I'm just curious when everyone started giving their toddlers peanut butter. I've read conflicting information regarding when to start - some sources say 2 years, some say 3 years. I know that those time frames are related to family history of food allergies, but it seems like a long time to wait. I ask because Jackson is starting to get a little picky and it would be nice to have another source of protein to give him. He really doesn't like to eat much meat and cheese is hit or miss with him. So, how old was your toddler when you started pb? Do you have a family history of peanut or other food allergies? __________________ "So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism; of service and responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other." - President Barack Obama

January 2nd, 2004, 10:46 PM	#6
gulp! between here and there. Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 10,874	We gave Emma peanut butter when she was about a year old. Neither side of the family has any peanut allergies, so we decided to let her have it. We watched her like a hawk the first time she ate it, and once we saw no reaction, we haven't looked back. Now we ALL eat lots of PBJ sandwiches!! __________________ This Castle Has Rules

January 9th, 2004, 03:32 PM	#16
Karri really? seriously? Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: still freakin' stressed. Posts: 21,559	I think Aidan had PB first when he was 13 months old, or so. He isnt a huge fan of it, though. I guess I should've known that after he turned up his nose at tahini. Anyway, we gave it to him b/c his pedi said it was fine...we have no history of food allergies in our families. __________________ Easy Bakin' Living out Loud

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January 2nd, 2004, 04:00 PM	#2
Jillian Umm...need something new... Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 5,251	Have you tried tahini, it's pretty similar to peanut butter and if he would eat it you could avoid the issue for longer. We haven't given Janelle any nuts of any sort YET, but are seriously considering starting soon (she is 16 months) because of her weight gain issues. However I probably shouldn't as both dh and I have anaphylactic food allergies (oranges for me red food colouring for dh) and Janelle has a pretty serious allergy to apples...so I know I SHOULD wait the 3 years...but another high fat food would be wonderful!

January 2nd, 2004, 05:18 PM	#3
kim Louise, no matter what happens, I'm glad I came Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: with you Posts: 11,198	i gave tony peanut butter at around 10 or 11 months. yea, call me a rebel. we have no allergies at all in our family. i do not give him real nuts though. my daycare won't give it to kids under 2 as it's considered a choking hazard.

January 2nd, 2004, 05:24 PM	#4
olcott Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Riverdale, NE Posts: 2,453	Trey got it the first time around 10 months...I gave him some of those ritz peanut butter crackers, and didn't even think about the fact that it had peanut butter..definite blonde moment he loves peanut butter though, and thats the one thing I can always fall back on, cause he loves it....he's not big on meat either

January 2nd, 2004, 06:55 PM	#5
chefkath Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Seattle Posts: 501	I waited until Brigit was 2 years, actually a little longer (I think she was 26 months.) We don't have any peanut allergies in our families, but I didn't think it was worth taking any chances. I'm so paranoid about things like that! I make our PB myself, with organic peanuts and no salt, so I know she's not getting any trans fats, sugar or icky additives in there. Our pediatrician actually recommends waiting until age 5 or later, and we had planned to wait that long - but a friend fed Brigit PB by accident. Once we knew she was OK with it, we figured we might as well let her have it!

January 3rd, 2004, 12:41 PM	#7
Mandy Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Virginia Posts: 284	Emma had it for the first time around 11 months. It was just a little bit on our finger. Since then she's had PB crackers (the PB is the filling) and likes those or bites of my PBJ sandwich. We have no allergy issues in our family so I wasn't worried about that. She's done great eating it and really likes it. I think as long as you only do a thin layer, the choking isn't as much of an issue.

January 3rd, 2004, 12:45 PM	#8
kalynnsmom Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Midlothian, TX Posts: 160	I talked to her Pedi about it, and since we don't have any family history of any food allergies, we gave it to her at 12 months. This is the only thing she'll eat for lunch. I spread it on very thin and take off the excess. She LOVES it.

January 3rd, 2004, 12:55 PM	#9
tchrgrrl Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 39	Our ped suggests waiting until 2 years for families without food allergies and at least 3 years for families with food allergies. We will be waiting 2 years. I use things like cream cheese, tahini, yogurt, and pureed chicken as higher protien/fat spreads on breads, tortillas and crackers.

January 3rd, 2004, 01:29 PM	#10
Connie1222 Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NYC Posts: 3,157	I can't remember exactly but I think it was a little after he turned 1. No allergies in our family.

January 4th, 2004, 10:28 AM	#11
Barb Wish I could think of something Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 9,918	Liam first had peanut butter around 15 months. I was going to wait until he was 2 or 3, and then I read a similiar thread on UB and since we have no history of allergies in our family I went ahead and gave it to him.

January 4th, 2004, 11:17 PM	#12
Kasi Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 246	Well, you know the story about MIL, the paci and the pb And though he had no reaction at the time, I still think I am going to hold off until he is 2 even though we have no food allergies. He does have serious skin allergies though and reacts to everything. I don't want to give his skin any more reason to break out then it already has. I may try the tahini thing...

January 5th, 2004, 03:58 PM	#13
Nocona . Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: St. Louis, MO Posts: 13,212	Matthew's been eating the crackers with PB in the middle forever (don't know exactly when) and PB&J sandwiches since he was around 12 months??? (guessing here).

January 8th, 2004, 02:12 PM	#14
Patti Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Vaughan, Ontario Posts: 23	I'm going to wait until Owen is 2. In the meantime we use cream cheese and hummus (very high in protein). Patti

January 8th, 2004, 10:00 PM	#15
Kris Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Tip of the Mitt Posts: 2,074	we are waotong until Emma is three before she gets PB I heard that is best but who really knows.

January 9th, 2004, 04:42 PM	#17
Leslie Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 703	I am comfortable giving it to Ian now, at almost 16 months old. The reason I don't is that he eats pretty well without it. I guess since DH and I don't really eat it much, so it doesn't cross my mind to give it to him. It would be an easy food though! We don't have food allergies, so maybe I will give it a try myself.

January 9th, 2004, 06:46 PM	#18
Cortney Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: NC Posts: 3,155	We gave it to Morgan at about 14 months- no food allergies in our family either. She did ok with it, but she doesn't really like it. I'd say she's prob. had it 6 times or so since then.

January 14th, 2004, 11:07 AM	#19
Eleanor is quite possibly nuts. Join Date: Jan 2004 Posts: 3,906	We tried it at 2 years...but she doesn't like it. :shrug: My mom actually has a peanut allergy, but not very severe, and no one else has any food allergies.

January 14th, 2004, 12:39 PM	#20
Kath Registered but not Subscribed Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 429	We were planning to wait until Chase was 2 years old (he is 15 months right now), even though we have no history of food allergies in our family. Well, he mistakenly was given some at daycare yesterday and has a pretty bad allergic reaction to it!! So.....he definitely won't be getting any again until he's tested for allergies after age 2!!