Introducing common allergens

4 min read

Current guidance from many countries says common allergens should not be delayed once your baby is ready for solids at about 6 months. Egg and peanut in particular are best introduced early, in a safe form, and then kept in the diet.

The nine foods most often involved are egg, peanut, milk, sesame, wheat, tree nuts, soy, fish and shellfish. Offer one new allergen at a time, in the first half of the day, in a small amount, and wait a couple of days before adding the next. Munchlet’s allergen planner keeps track.

Once introduced, keep offering the food a few times a week if it goes well, since stopping can make a baby lose tolerance. Serve it safely: thin nut butter, cooked egg, finely ground nuts, never whole nuts.

If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, or if food allergy runs in your family, talk to your pediatrician before offering peanut and egg. They may suggest a check first. Local guidance differs, so follow your doctor’s advice where it does.