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Peanut Butter & Reactions in Toddlers

A child who experiences an allergic reaction after eating peanut butter is allergic to peanuts. Peanut allergies are common in children, according to the Mayo Clinic; children may experience symptoms ranging from slight irritation all the way to anaphylactic shock. Allergies to peanuts are among the most common triggers for anaphylaxis in young children. Some children must ingest peanuts in order to have a reaction, while others cannot even be in a room that contains peanuts. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration posits that 6 percent of children under the age of 3 have peanut allergies.

  1. When Can Children Eat Peanuts?

    • The Mayo Clinic states that doctors once told parents to avoid feeding a young child peanut butter for fear of a severe allergic reaction. Many pediatricians still advise parents not to allow a child to try peanut butter until his second birthday. However, Children's Hospital Boston recommends feeding toddlers peanut butter because it contains protein.

    Allergies to Peanuts and Other Nuts

    • Many toddlers with allergies to peanuts have allergies to other tree nuts because the proteins that trigger the allergic reaction to peanuts are similar to proteins in other tree nuts. Tree nuts that are likely to trigger allergic reactions in peanut-allergic toddlers are cashews, almonds, Brazil nuts, walnuts, hazelnuts, macadamia nuts, pistachios and pecans. Allergic reactions to other tree nuts in toddlers can be as severe as allergic reactions to peanuts.

    Handling an Allergic Reaction

    • How you handle an allergic reaction to peanut butter depends on the severity of the reaction. It is always a good idea to have some kind of oral antihistamine around the house in case your child has a mild allergic reaction to something; if your child ingests peanut butter and has a mild reaction, such as hives, administer the antihistamine. If, however, your child turns red and stops breathing, call 911 immediately. If you have an EpiPen, use it immediately and have someone else call 911.

    Avoiding an Allergic Reaction

    • The easiest way to avoid an allergic reaction to peanuts in your toddler is to cut out every possible exposure. Do not allow peanuts or other tree nuts in your home. Make everything your toddler eats at home, daycare or play dates yourself. Instruct the parents of your child's friends about his allergies. Talk to your child's daycare provider as well. When eating out, make sure to discuss the nut allergy with the wait staff and insist that they inform the chef.

    Outgrowing Peanut Allergies

    • Some children outgrow peanut allergies as they leave their toddler years. A team from the Johns Hopkins Children's Center published an article in the November 2004 issue of the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology saying that children who outgrow peanut allergies should continue to eat products with concentrated amounts of peanuts or peanut products to maintain a tolerance for peanuts.

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