Can I give my 18 month old peanut butter or almond butter?

Brooke - posted on 12/29/2012

I started with a small amount of PB when my son was 14 months, then when I would make PB&J sandwiches I would add a little bit of apple sauce to reduce the choking hazard. He loves it!

Lisa - posted on 07/24/2010

The dietician recommended i give my son peanut butter (he is supposedly underweight!!) and he is 13 months old. I did not let my older son have any nut products until he was 3 years old. When I told her this she asked if there were any allergies in the family (no) and suggested that a skin test (place a smear of p.b. on skin) first would alleviate my concerns. She said if no reaction occured with skin test then it was unlikely to occur with ingestion. He has since had p.b sandwiches and loves them!

Lizan - posted on 07/24/2010

I've given my son peanut butter since he was 13 months... like anything, just give them a tiny bit and see if they have any reaction to it. Better to be safe than sorry!

Marea - posted on 07/21/2010

i gave my children peanut butter as baby's just a tiny bit just to see if they were allergic but they were fine i have 5 kids

Brandi - posted on 07/21/2010

my daughter is only 11 months and she loves peanut butter! i would have waited to give it to her, but somehow she managed to open the jar (probably with help from my 5yr old) and i walked in to find them sitting on the floor eating it with their hands!! now she goes crazy when she sees it and pb&j are one of her fave snacks....

Anna - posted on 07/20/2010

I've been giving my children peanut butter since they were 9 months old. Just introduce it really slow and watch them closely. Just like any other food.

Carisa - posted on 07/20/2010

My pediatrician did a complete 180 on this issue between my two girls (4 and 16 months) With Olivia, we didn't give her peanut butter until she was two. When Madeline was born, the only thing she was restricted on was honey until she was one. I actually started giving her peanut butter at 9 months (she's little and needed the fat) It's still a controversial issue, but doctors are beginning to think that restricting peanuts may be leading to more food allergies instead of preventing them. They are also beginning to find that food allergies are over diagnosed because there is no real good test for them other than a tolerance test (where you give the patient the food under a controlled environment to see if there is a reaction) I guess my advice is to go with your gut.

Heather - posted on 07/20/2010

The advice I would give is to follow what you feel is right. I tried my little boy with Peanut Butter when he was about 18 months but he didn't like it. I wouldn't let him have nuts though until he was older (2 1/2) due to the choking hazard. Also because I myself have quite a few allergies (including asthma and eczema), apparently this can pass onto their children and they can then develop allergies to things such as nuts a little later in life (the reaction doesn't always start when they first eat something). I would just say to give small amounts and watch out for any obvious reactions.

Shana - posted on 07/19/2010

I have given my son PB before. I started when he was about 13 mos. I just put a little on my finger the first time and let him eat it. I didn't give him alot the first couple of times to make sure he didn't have an allergy. Then came reeces peanut butter cups. I'd let him have a bite or 2 of one. Then i tried PB&J sandwiches with the PB spread thinly and i would cut them in finger lengths to help him eat them. We haven't had any problems.

Holly - posted on 07/19/2010

I make peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and I just mix the pb&j together, so it's really easy to eat :)

Peanut butter by itself is another one of my daughter's favorites though. She'll eat it off a spoon and loves every bite (I watch her of course to make sure she doesn't choke).

Jamie - posted on 07/19/2010

Thanks! Maybe I'll try it. You just have to spread it on bread pretty thin, right? I don't want her to choke!

Holly - posted on 07/19/2010

My daughter is 17 months and she's had peanut butter since her first birthday... she LOVES it :)

Kaitlin - posted on 07/19/2010

My son is 18 months old & I gave him peanut butter before now. I don't see anything wrong with it as long as you watch them closely & don't give them too much at one time.