My son will be two in April. Can he have nuts NOW? Peanut butter? I was going to make cookies with almond extract and realized that he may not be allowed to eat it. He's had pecans already (oops. I had totally forgotten). He had NO reaction though. Can he eat shellfish? My mom made shrimp gumbo last week and I felt bad not sharing my bowl with him. I looked on babycenter.com but didn't find an actual AGE. I am not allergic to anything that I know of. Husband has perhaps slight reaction (itchy throat) with aspartame, avocado, & banana. Son's done fine with avocado & banana, hasn't had aspartame. Thanks!
I missed his 18 month appointment, and now we've moved. I guess I could still call the pediatrician's office and ask. I think he said 18 months or 2 years. I'll let him try one food one week, another the next, as you suggested. Thanks! I knew y'all would come through.
ANOTHER UPDATE:
So glad that more of you posted after I already did a "So What Happened." You are all so great to help me. I love this website! I appreciate your suggestions, especially about how to SPREAD the PB thin - Never thought about that one. Won't post and update about how he liked it. Will keep the Benadryl and Dr number handy just in case.
Hi Jessica,
my son will be 2 in April as well. I have already tried giving him peanut butter and also almond butter, he loves them both. I did not know either but I tried just a little at first.
Good luck!
I'm not a doctor, but I don't think that you need to worry about restricting your son's diet for allergies. We have fed our son nuts since he could chew them, and peanut butter before that, probably starting around 8 months. He's 2 now and loves shrimp. According to our pediatrican, the latest research indicates that exposure to foods at an earlier age than previously thought may actually be better in terms of preventing allergies. If you and your husband don't have allergies to peanuts and shellfish I would think you will be fine to offer them to your son. Check with your doctor if you are concerned about it. My doc's advice when we started solids was "open the cupboards and have fun."
Your pediatrician should have given you guidelines on all of this at his 18 month (or earlier appointment).
About 2 years ago, the American Academy of Pediatrics changed their policies regarding the introduction of foods to children. We were told (by the same pediatrician) with our son to wait with certain foods - peanut butter, eggs, etc. When we took our daughter to her 12 month well-baby visit, he told us the policy had changed and the only restrictions today are foods that pose a choking hazard or that are known family allergens. Foods known to cause allergies should be introduced gradually and in small quantities.
Here's the link to the AAP's policy from their parenting website (see kinds of foods). If your pediatrician isn't following this guidance, it's fair to ask why not.
http://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/f...
Our pediatrician recommended 4 years for nuts. I still haven't given him peanut butter. As for the shellfish, he's had shrimp before and LOVED it.
Give you ped a call to put your mind at ease.
They used to say not to give kids shellfish until the age of 3. However, in the last 2 years they've changed this. Now "they" think introducing it early (but not before age 1) is a good idea unless they have the highly allergenic foods a little too often. Basically, don't give your child shellfish or PB everyday. :) He can definitely have peanut butter now. The biggest risk is actually spreading the PB on a sandwich too thickly. Always make sandwiches with a thin layer due to choking hazards. He should be fine with all nuts but keep in mind that allergic reactions often occur the second time someone is exposed. Since he's already had pecans, keep an eye out for anything weird after he has them a second time (hives, swelling, breathing problems, coughing, etc.). With no allergies in the family, it's not likely. If you notice anything, give him Benedryl right away and call the Dr. Lastly, I don't know if your husband has been to an allergist about the avocado and banana issue. I have the same problem and my allergist said it's a sensitivity, not the kind of allergy that will ever send me into anaphalactic shock. Bananas, avocado and latex all have the same compound...so he's probably sensitive to latex too and doesn't even know it.
they can have things made from nuts such as peanut butter after the first b-day unless food allergies run the family then they suggest you wait until 3. No actual nuts or popcorn until 3 b/c of the choking hazard. As for shrimp I would guess it the same as the nut butters at one if you don't have food allergies and you think they can chew it. I gave my son shrimp at around 18 mos but he had a hard time chewing some things
Hth
In my years of day care, the rule has been by most pediatricians was not to give them the products you mentions until they were a year old. When you did pay close attention for any reactions. Hope this helps. Have a great day.
I actually asked this question to my daughter's docter when we are out to dinner with him and his family.
He said yes to shellfish but no to nuts. The only reason he had said no to nuts was because nuts are too hard to chew and prevent a choking hazard.
When I was pregnant, my doc said not to ingest aspartame. From that point on, I have made a conscience effort not to ingest aspartame or give it to my child.
The nuts this is because they can choke on the nuts. If he is not allergic to the nuts then you can give them to him, but make sure he is seated and only one nut at a time is probably best.
My daughter is 15 months and I have been giving her shrimp for a while now. Just don't give him any raw shellfish and you should be fine. Of course I don't suggest finding the most questionable restaurant in town and going and chowing down.
Happy eating.
our son eats shrimp and actualy loves it! we pop them in the toaster oven. i doubt he would even think of eating gumbo though...he says lots of stuff is "ew gross". our son also loves pb and j. watch that you dont give him an entire spoon full of peanut butter as it can become a choaking hazzard...along with marshmellows and hot dog weiners. try new foods with him watch him while eating and after. our son loves peanuts but sometimes puts too many and choaks so we had to stop giving them untill he learns to chew properly! look online to see what reactions to watch for.
He can have it now , they say not to give it under a year old. If you have a history of allergies to these foods in the family then just give a little and only 1 type at a time , this way if there is a reaction then you know what caused it.
As Dana and Bridgett observe, guidelines have changed on some foods. Peanuts, according to a recent large study, are actually LESS likely to cause allergy when introduced early and served in small quantities. Here's another good link for general guidelines: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-baby/PR00029
I gave my son peanut butter for the first time in the doctor's waiting room before a regular check up - probably when he was 18 mos. I figured if he had a reaction, help would be close at hand!
After age one, he should be fine with most things. Just introduce it by itself to see if he has a reaction.
The "powers" recommend age 2 for peanut butter, I guess that would go for all other nuts as well. They think it lowers the chance of peanut allergies.
I have never heard anything about shellfish, but figured it couldn't hurt to follow the same policy with it as with peanuts. So I did. My son is almost 8 and has never shown any reaction to any foods.
Like your husband, avocado sometimes bothers my mouth, make my lips swell and mouth itch. Raw carrots and lettuce has done this on occasion as well. Watermelon and cantaloupe always make my mouth itch and tingle almost unbearably. I have found that if I drink a big glass of water afterward, it takes it away. The melon problem started when I was a kid and had two silver caps on a couple of my molars. The fillings I have now are silver too. I think it must have something to do with the reaction of the acid in the melon with the silver.
