Whether to protect your children from getting peanut allergy by giving them peanuts at a young age has remained the topic of debate for years now. A study conducted by Kings' College London researchers provided evidence that giving kids peanuts when they are young drastically reduces the risk of developing peanut allergies by nearly 86 percent.
Which kids should eat peanuts?
The kids who do not suffer from eczema in the first six months to one year as well as those who do not show any other sign of allergy should be given peanuts in various forms depending on the culture. The children at a low risk of developing peanut allergy should be given peanut butter immediately when they start weaning. However, peanuts shouldn't be the first food because if the child chokes, it may show that they have allergies towards peanut butter or, it could be simply because they are not yet in a level to deal with solid foods.
The high-risk children, identified as those with symptoms of food allergy or eczema, should first see a health care provider to have a skin prick test done for peanut immediately after the symptoms surface.
If the test results are negative, then the child should be highly encouraged to eat peanut butter at home; but if there is a small disposition towards a positive result, let the first exposure to peanut butter be under the doctor's supervision.
If the child is able to tolerate the peanut, then he or she should be encouraged to take it regularly in his or her diet for at least the first three years of their life.
