Adapted from BMJ 25 March 23
The incidence of peanut allergy has tripled in recent decades and now affects 2% of the population. Researchers from Southampton University and King’s College London found that peanut allergy could be cut by 77% if peanut products are added to baby’s diets.
They suggest that babies with eczema are started at 4 months and other babies at 6 months. The effectiveness of allergy prevention reduced with every month that peanut introduction was delayed.
Most peanut allergies had developed by the age of one. Professor Gideon Lack said, “there is a narrow window of opportunity to prevent allergy developing.
Mary Feeney, paediatric dietician at King’s College London says, “Breast feeding should still continue. The baby should be developmentally able to take solids. Small amounts of pureed vegetable, fruit or cereals such as baby rice should be introduced first. Once this is established then add peanut butter which has been loosened with a little baby milk. Whole or chopped peanuts should not be used. A heaped teaspoon of peanut butter three times a week is good.”
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