Is it safe for your baby to have nuts and nut products?
You might have heard that nuts and nut products are off limits for your little one, but the truth is, they can form part of a healthy, balanced diet for babies and can be introduced as early as six months when your child starts solids, says registered dietitian and ADSA spokesperson, Vanessa Clarke.
“Experts used to believe that nuts should only be introduced after a year, as they’re allergenic foods. However, new research has shown that introducing these foods to your little one early - around six months of age - even in high risk children, can help to reduce the risk of a nut allergy developing,” explains Vanessa.
Make sure to take these precautions
Vanessa says that your child's risk for developing a food allergy is greatly elevated by a family history of allergies. “There are two separate types of nut allergies: peanuts and tree nuts,” she says. “If your little one is at a high risk for allergies, speak to your child’s paediatrician or allergy specialist for tips and advice on how to introduce these foods.
“If there’s a history of severe family allergies to nuts, make sure you’re close to a medical facility when trying nuts, or do so in the presence of a medical practitioner with an oral food challenge,” she adds.
Vanessa also believes that you should always wait 2-3 days between trying allergenic foods and introduce one new food at a time to be able to diagnose the cause of the allergy – if it develops.
Nuts and nut products should be offered in a texture that’s suitable for babies and toddlers. For example, try smooth nut butter or ground nuts mixed into yoghurt, porridge or smoothies, not whole nuts which have a high choking risk, as these should only be introduced after three to four years of age.
Watch out for these signs of nut allergies
• Rash
• Swelling of the lips
• Itching of the mouth
• Abdominal pain or diarrhoea
• A runny nose
More severe symptoms include: swelling of the tongue; wheezing and difficulty breathing; or loss of consciousness.
The best nut products to start with
“Smooth nut butters such as almond, macadamia or peanut butter are great options to start with because they’re tasty, versatile and easy to eat”, says Vanessa. When choosing nut butters, look for simple options that only contain nuts, and are free from added sugar, salt or preservatives.
Nut-based milks such as almond milk should never replace breastmilk as they’re too low in protein and don’t meet the nutrition requirements for growing children.
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