Quick answer: From 6 months — and ideally early, not delayed. Current evidence strongly supports introducing peanut products early to reduce allergy risk. High-risk babies (significant eczema or confirmed egg allergy) should be assessed by a doctor first.
The evidence for early introduction
The LEAP trial (Learning Early About Peanut Allergy), published in the New England Journal of Medicine in 2015, is one of the most influential trials in paediatric allergy medicine. It found that high-risk infants who consumed peanut products regularly from 4–11 months had an 86% reduction in peanut allergy compared to those who avoided peanuts until age 5. This directly overturned decades of ‘delay introduction to prevent allergy’ guidance. Follow-up studies confirmed the protective effect persists. Current NHS, NICE, AAP, and BSACI guidance: introduce peanuts early, from 6 months, for all babies. Don’t wait.
Safe forms of peanut for babies
Whole peanuts and large blobs of thick peanut butter are choking hazards until age 5 — never offer these. Safe forms from 6 months: smooth peanut butter thinned with breast milk, formula, or water to a loose, runny consistency (thinned until it drops off the spoon easily); peanut powder mixed into porridge or purée; peanut puffs specifically designed for infant allergen introduction (Bamba, Piccolo, and similar products); peanut butter thinly spread on a piece of soft bread or toast finger. The key is: smooth, thinned, not sticky.
How to introduce: the process
First time: offer a tiny amount (quarter teaspoon of thinned peanut butter) at home in the morning. Watch for 2 hours. Signs of allergic reaction: hives anywhere on the body, swelling of lips or face, vomiting, wheezing, pallor or limpness. If none: offer again the same day or next day and increase the amount. Once established: maintain regular exposure — 2–3 times per week. This is critical. Many parents introduce successfully then stop offering for weeks; tolerance is maintained by regular consumption and can lapse with extended absence.
High-risk babies: assess first
Babies with moderate-to-severe eczema (not mild or well-controlled eczema — significant, persistent, hard-to-control eczema) and/or confirmed egg allergy are at higher risk of peanut allergy and should have a doctor or allergy specialist assessment before home introduction. The assessment determines whether home introduction is safe or supervised hospital introduction is needed. Most high-risk babies can still have early introduction — the assessment guides the setting, not the decision.
Frequently Asked Questions
My family has peanut allergy — does my baby need specialist assessment first?
Parental or sibling peanut allergy alone does not require specialist assessment — the recommendation for specialist assessment before home introduction applies specifically to babies with significant eczema and/or confirmed egg allergy. Parental allergy is a risk factor but not a trigger for the specialist-first pathway. Discuss with your doctor if uncertain.
What if my baby had a mild reaction — can I retry at home?
No — never re-introduce at home after any reaction, even mild, without medical guidance. Mild first reactions don’t predict the severity of subsequent ones. a doctor assessment and potentially allergy specialist evaluation is required before any rechallenge.
How often do I need to keep offering peanuts to maintain tolerance?
2–3 times per week. Once established, regular exposure is what maintains tolerance — you don’t need to offer daily. Peanut butter in morning porridge, a peanut puff at snack time, or a small amount of satay sauce on family food all count.
Related Reading
- When should I introduce a bottle to a breastfed baby?
- 6 month old baby: starting solids – a complete first-foods guide
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