[SKL]

Originally Posted by joshsmom

... it is a very hard (if not impossible) substance to clear from the throat if they are choking because it is so sticky.

This is a very important consideration - peanut butter from the jar (or used as a globby dip) is a huge choking hazard - even for older children. Thanks for bringing that up. But spread thinly on a slice of bread, it's not a significant choking hazard. However, you are right, he has all his life to enjoy peanut butter, so there's no hurry!

[hbrown22]

Hmm, I never thought about the choking factor but that makes sense. I think I'll stick with giving him peanut butter but spread thin so it won't be a choking hazard. Interesting to read all the replies and different points of view on it. As far as seafood goes, my DH gave Jake a tuna sandwich once. Then another time he gave him fish tacos. I said to him both times, isn't that seafood? He was like oh yeah, I forgot. And he is the one freaking out about the peanut butter! So can they not have seafood because of allergies too or is it for things like mercury?

[hml1976]

While choking may be a concern new studies have shown that delaying the introduction of allergens doesn't impact whether or not the child will have an allergy. The AAP changed its recommendations on this last year, when my son was 12mths and needed to gain weight so we pulled out the Jiffy. Edited because I can't spell.

AAP issues new advice on food allergies - ParentDish

[JGarrick]

Originally Posted by hml1976

...new studies have shown that delaying the introduction of allergens doesn't impact whether or not the child will have an allergy.

Given the strong genetic link with most allergies, that's so wholly unremarkable a finding that it's somewhat startling that it took the AAP this long to reach that conclusion.

[pjb1967]

It would be interesting to do a survey and see if any of our Guatemala kids do in-fact have a peanut allergy.

I might be wrong but I think this is more of an american problem, I mean have you ever heard of anyone in a 3rd world country having a peanut allergy or being lactose intolerant or any of the other weird food issues we here in America have developed over the years?

I did wait until my daughter was 2 and she was fine. So far I have not met any adopted parent with a child from a 3rd world country, nor has anyone on this tread mentioned their Guatemalan child having a peanut allergy.

Just a thought. Of course it's better to be save then sorry.

Pam

[drjeanne]

Our DD was already eating these things before she came home too. Her foster mother had already exposed her to all sorts of foods before she was even 14 months old! About 2 weeks after she got here, a friend and I went to Red Lobster and I couldn't believe how much food she ate! She had tilapia and shrimp and lobster.....I sure am glad she's not allergic to all these healthy foods! Yummy!

Jeanne

[JGarrick]

Originally Posted by pjb1967

I might be wrong but I think this is more of an american problem, I mean have you ever heard of anyone in a 3rd world country having a peanut allergy or being lactose intolerant or any of the other weird food issues we here in America have developed over the years?

Not to be too blunt about it, but you're not hearing about it in third world countries because 1) we don't hear about much of anything going on in third world countries, 2) it's likely that few people there are living with severe peanut allergies because they're dying from anaphylaxis the first time they're exposed, and 3) nobody is reporting stats on the number of people living with peanut allergies in the third world.

That's probably also why it's uncommon in parts of the world where peanuts are heavily used (China, for example). A century ago (and any time before then), it's likely that few people survived with a peanut allergy in a culture that ate so many peanuts. If they didn't live to have children, within a few generations that allergy would be almost unheard of in that peanut eating population.

[Quesita]

My doctor told me no peanuts until 2 years old, but Liana must have been about 18 months the first time I got Thai food, and she LOVED the pad thai. After she was done, I noticed that pad thai has ground peanuts in it. And she was fine. I really tried to hold off on peanut butter until almost 2, and now she LOVES peanut butter. We don't eat meat, and I think it is a good source of protein for her.

[pjb1967]

Originally Posted by JGarrick

Not to be too blunt about it, but you're not hearing about it in third world countries because 1) we don't hear about much of anything going on in third world countries, 2) it's likely that few people there are living with severe peanut allergies because they're dying from anaphylaxis the first time they're exposed, and 3) nobody is reporting stats on the number of people living with peanut allergies in the third world.

That's probably also why it's uncommon in parts of the world where peanuts are heavily used (China, for example). A century ago (and any time before then), it's likely that few people survived with a peanut allergy in a culture that ate so many peanuts. If they didn't live to have children, within a few generations that allergy would be almost unheard of in that peanut eating population.

Yes, you do make some good points but if you check online (of course this does not make it true) there is some information about this issue.

There was much information about us here in the U.S. and our fairly new obsession with antibacterial products creating some of the problem.

The "hygiene hypothesis" holds that life in the Western world has become so clean and antiseptic that the immune systems of its children are not being challenged sufficiently and have become less resistant creating many new allergies..

I'm 41 and back when I was a child, you never heard of anyone having a peanut allergy or rules at school of not being able to bring peanut butter or any snacks with peanuts in.
Based on what you are saying are we to assume this is because back then the kids in the USA that really did have peanut allergies died from anaphylaxis the first time they're exposed, that's why the issue did not exist? Of course not.

I'm was just thinking that our Guatemalan kids were exposed to a much different environment in their early months then babies in the USA which might explain the lack of this allergy in them.

[LucyLuMyLuv]

the reason is definitely because of the choking hazard. Peanut butter is actually the worst offender for this risk!

[Hopingsoon]

I was told my son could have all foods at 1 year. I so was petrified of the dreaded peanut allergy that I waited until we were in the doctor's waiting room for a regularly scheduled check-up to give him peanut crackers for the first time. No problems

Now I'm hearing if there is a family history of allergies, to hold off on certain foods until the child is 3. Obviously, with our Guatemalan kiddo's, we don't have this info. I'd consider if you are like me, and fearful of a scary reaction, consider bringing a small portion of the food to the doctor's office when you are there for a well child visit and offer the food where immediate help is available if there is a reaction. While that probably won't work well with shellfish, anything off limits like peanuts, honey, egg products, etc., should be fairly portable.

[EZ2Luv]

My kids at everything by the time they were 14 months old. MIL is old school and would feed them during they day. I would worry more of a choke hazard but if you spread it thinly and put more jelly for extra wetness I don't see a problem. We (Dh and I) at PB as babies and we are around to talk about. However, you have to do whatever you are comfortable with. I really do not think there are any hard fast rules. My kids loved fish sticks and by two they were eating shrimp. The only think I held out on were pork and pork products until they were 2 years old. After that, whatever we had on our plates they were able to try if so inclined.
I am sure none of us are going to hand our kids a tub of PB and have them go at it. lol But there is nothing wrong with spreading a thin layer on a slice of whole wheat bread with some preserves or jelly.
When my kids got a little older they were into dipping and loved dipping apples in PB. We make our own PB so we have control over the consistancy.
I am so glad my kids have been exposed to so many different foods early on. You would be suprised at some of the stuff they would request when they were old enough to verbalize what they wanted.

EZ

[Mom2princess]

My oldest daughter had PB for the first time at age 14 months she did not even swallow it she spit it right out. Right away she had hives all over. We had blood drawn for her to be tested for every nut out there(not a fun thing for her they had to draw so much blood, but it was neccessary). She is only allergic to peanuts, I have to carry an epi pen with me. From what I have learned it is mostly hereditary. But what I also learned from the doctor the reason why they want you to wait until they are older is because their gut has not developed until they are older,and their body may think it is a foreign substance. Now with our little one from Guatemala, she is 18 months. I want to sometime have her taste some PB by herself just so I know if she is allergic to PB, I will wait until she is 2. But she will basically be peanut free as well. We love almond butter. Having a child who is highly allergic to peanuts is a very scary thing. When our oldest was 3 months she developed excema and the doctor said she would probably be allergic to something, she is only allergic to peanuts.

[Amber76]

Originally Posted by pjb1967

It would be interesting to do a survey and see if any of our Guatemala kids do in-fact have a peanut allergy.

I might be wrong but I think this is more of an american problem, I mean have you ever heard of anyone in a 3rd world country having a peanut allergy or being lactose intolerant or any of the other weird food issues we here in America have developed over the years?
Pam

My son is lactose intolerant, and his birthmom came to the US from Guatemala while pregnant with him, so Guatemalan babies certainly can have that issue.

As far as the peanut thing, my sister has a peanut sensitivity (not a major allergic reaction, but gets hives and migraines if she eats peanut butter) and the pediatrician told her to hold off on giving peanut butter to her daughter-not because of choking or because it could increase her likelihood of allergies but because it's a lot easier to intubate and treat a 2 or 3 year old than a tiny 1 year old if there is a severe reaction.

[SmileLaughLearn]

Just as an aside, peanut allergies are not always hereditary. Dh has a severe peanut allergy, and no one else in his immediate or extended family has an allergy. Heredity is a big risk factor, of course, but there is still a chance that a child may have an allergy even without family history.

I'd love to give my kids peanut butter, but we have a peanut-free house. Oh, how I miss my pb&j's from my single days! lol