Peanut

Yes. Peanuts, peanut pieces, and peanut butter are choking hazards for babies and children. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve peanuts and peanut butter in an age-appropriate way as described in How to Serve. As always, create a safe eating environment and stay within reach of baby during meals. 

Learn the signs of choking and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.

Yes. Peanut is a common allergen, and for those who develop a peanut allergy, it tends to be lifelong.

However, there’s good news: introducing peanut early and serving regularly, including through the toddler years, can help prevent the allergy from developing.

Although most babies will never experience an allergic reaction to food, delaying introduction to common food allergens like peanut may actually increase the risk of an allergy developing. Babies with eczema or an existing allergy to another food, particularly to egg, are at increased risk of developing a peanut allergy, especially if introduction is delayed. The early introduction of peanut (ideally beginning at 4 months of age) is especially important for these babies, even if they are not yet developmentally ready to self-feed. If baby has known food allergies or severe eczema and is already 7 months of age or older, consult your doctor before introducing peanut at home, as it may be safer to introduce the allergen under medical supervision.

Being allergic to peanut may increase the risk of allergy to other legumes. However, cross-reactivity among legumes is more commonly seen on blood and skin testing than it is in practice. Children with peanut allergy do not necessarily need to avoid all other legumes.

For babies without severe eczema or pre-existing food allergy, common allergens such as peanut can typically be introduced at home. Start with a small amount prepared in an age-appropriate way to reduce the risk of choking. Learn more in How to Serve. For step-by-step guidance on how to safely introduce peanut, subscribe to the Solid Starts App.

Peanut has recently emerged as an increasingly recognized FPIES trigger. FPIES (food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome) is a non-IgE-mediated food allergy that results in delayed vomiting and diarrhea after ingestion of a food trigger, and can cause significant dehydration. However, this is not a reason to delay peanut introduction unless specifically advised by your baby’s doctor. Unlike IgE-mediated allergy to peanut, FPIES to peanut tends to be outgrown during the toddler years. Read more about FPIES.

It can be. While peanuts are not a tree nut, and most peanut-allergic individuals are not allergic to tree nuts, children who are allergic to peanuts do have a greater chance (between 25 and 40%) of being allergic to one or more tree nuts.

It depends. For those with peanut allergy, highly refined peanut oils are typically tolerated because the allergenic peanut proteins are removed during processing. However, unrefined peanut oil still poses a risk of allergy due to proteins that remain in the oil.

Yes. Peanuts are rich in fat, protein, and fiber. They also offer iron, magnesium, and zinc, in addition to folate and vitamins B6 and E. Together, these nutrients work to provide energy, essential building blocks for baby’s development, and fuel for the developing gut microbiome. These nutrients also help to support healthy red blood cells, electrolyte balance, taste perception, nervous system function, and immune function. Plus, they contain antioxidants that help support repair and recovery in baby’s body.

Babies can have peanut puffs like Bamba as soon as they are developmentally ready for solids, typically around 6 months of age. To reduce the choking risk with any brand of peanut puffs: let baby pick up and feed themselves the puffs, as self-feeding reduces the risk of choking and make sure the puffs dissolve readily in baby’s mouth. Some puffs dissolve less well when they become stale, so only offer fresh puffs. Bamba and other peanut puffs are one way of helping maintain exposure to peanut in the diet, a key component of preventing peanut allergy from developing.

Yes. Both refined and unrefined peanut oil are just fine as a cooking oil and can add nourishing fats to baby’s diet. Peanut oil is either processed at high heats to remove the color and taste (refined peanut oil) or cold-pressed to retain flavor and nutrition (unrefined peanut oil). Note that unrefined peanut oil is capable of triggering allergic reactions in babies who are already allergic, but peanut oil won’t work to maintain regular exposure to the allergen in the diet for allergy prevention purposes.

Yes. Peanut flour is made by grinding and stripping peanuts of their fats, which is why it is sometimes marketed as “defatted” peanut flour or powder. While peanut flour is lower in fat than other forms of the food, it still contains significant amounts of fiber, protein, and micronutrients such as zinc, vitamin B6, and folate. Including peanut flour in baby’s meals is also a great way to maintain exposure to peanut for allergy prevention.