[love2mother]

<p>DS1 has a severe peanut allergy. We introduced peanut butter at age 2, and that is when we found out he was allergic. </p>
<p>We are wondering  what age should we introduce peanuts to DD2? The allergy specialist we see for DS1 says DD2 has a 50/50 chance of developing an allergy too, and that we should wait until age 3. I am wondering how other families have approached this with other child #2 who has a PA sibling? It seems so many folks are introducing their babes to peanuts around age 12 months now (despite the  AAP recommendation). Furthermore, some information you read points towards those who wait longer to consume peanuts are at higher risk to develop PA, and that early exposure is better?</p>
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<p>I would appreciate hearing from other PA families- thanks! </p>

 

[changingseasons]

Well, DD has a peanut allergy so we don't keep any nuts in the house. So I'm honestly not sure when we'll decide to introduce nuts (if ever) to our next LO. We might just go straight for allergy testing once this babe is around 2yo.<br><br>
One specific reason that I wouldn't introduce them at 12 months is because they just aren't verbal enough to tell you if they're feeling funny. Ana reactions in kids might not be immediately obvious- a toddler might just start moving their head funny because it's starting to get harder to breath or swallow. By the time the airway is constricted enough for you to actually see/hear it, you have very little time to administer an epipen and get emergency help.<br><br>
I know that the early exposure vs. strict avoidance is still a hot debate. If you felt like you wanted to get early exposure, you could always just rub a peanut on the child's arm (while having your epipen ready!) and see if you get any contact reaction. That still counts as exposure, because the body will absorb it through the skin; it will just be a much smaller amount. No need to fed it directly to get that early exposure, imo.

 

[love2mother]

<p>Thanks for your reply. You made a good point which I forgot to mention, which is we don't have any peanut/nuts product of any kind in the house either and b/c of that, DD2 won't be consuming peanuts on a regular basis (or at all in the home). However, I would like to know if she is allergic as well. I like the idea of just exposing her via the skin. </p>
<p>My impression has been that even if we have her tested (skin or blood), a true allergy won't show up and/or develop until she has had direct exposure (not counting in utero or breastmilk)??</p>
<p>Of course, PA (or others) can develop at any time, even after testing or first exposure, but I still like the idea of "knowing". </p>
<p>Thoughts?</p>

 

[changingseasons]

<div class="quote-container"><span>Quote:</span>
<div class="quote-block">My impression has been that even if we have her tested (skin or blood), a true allergy won't show up and/or develop until she has had direct exposure (not counting in utero or breastmilk)??</div>
</div>
<br>
Nope- in utero definitely counts as exposure!! DD's first allergy test (RAST) showed positive when she was 5 months old, and I hadn't had any peanuts since early in my pregnancy. But you're right that an allergy won't show up on the first exposure. So you could always do a slight skin exposure and then allergy test, or the other way around.