When should I introduce peanut to my baby?

For most babies, introduce peanut early, around 6 months, once your baby is eating solids. Babies with severe eczema, egg allergy, or both are at higher risk and may start as early as 4 to 6 months, but only after talking to a pediatrician, who may recommend allergy testing first. Current NIAID guidelines say not to delay peanut, because early introduction lowers the risk of peanut allergy.

How do I give peanut butter to a baby without choking?

Never give whole peanuts, chunky peanut butter, or a thick glob of plain peanut butter, all are choking hazards. Instead, thin about 2 teaspoons of smooth peanut butter into warm water, breast milk, formula, yogurt, or puree until it is lump-free, or use a peanut puff that dissolves. Avoid whole peanuts and tree nuts until your child reliably chews well, usually at least age 4.

How often should my baby eat peanut after the first taste?

Keep it in the diet regularly, not just once. In the LEAP study, infants ate about 6 grams of peanut protein a week, roughly 2 teaspoons of peanut butter at a time, spread over 3 or more feedings a week. Aim to keep peanut and egg part of normal meals a few times a week once your baby tolerates them. If there is a long gap of several months, ask your pediatrician before restarting.

What are the signs of an allergic reaction in a baby?

Reactions usually appear within minutes to a couple of hours of eating. Mild signs include a few hives, a red itchy rash around the mouth, mild lip swelling, some vomiting, or a runny nose, call your pediatrician. Severe signs are a 911 emergency: trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, widespread hives, pale or bluish skin, repeated vomiting, or sudden floppiness. Give prescribed epinephrine right away and call 911.

How should I introduce egg to my baby?

Introduce egg early, alongside other solids around 6 months, and serve it well-cooked, never raw or runny. Hard-boiled and mashed or fully scrambled both work; thin or mash it smooth. Offer a small amount first and watch for a reaction. Introduce one allergen at a time. If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, ask your pediatrician about timing first.

Allergens · 4–11 mo

Introducing Peanut and Egg: When and How

Am I supposed to give my baby peanut early, or wait?

For years parents were told to delay peanut and egg. The advice reversed. Introducing peanut early, once your baby is ready for solids, lowers the chance of peanut allergy. Here is when to start, how to offer it safely, and what a reaction looks like.

7 min read Allergens Updated June 2026

Reviewed against current AAP and CDC guidance

Why early, not late

The LEAP study randomized 640 infants at high risk for peanut allergy, enrolled between 4 and 11 months. One group ate peanut regularly; the other avoided it. By age 5, about 3 percent of the peanut-eating group were allergic, compared with about 17 percent of the avoidance group, roughly an 80 percent lower rate. Based on these results, a NIAID-sponsored expert panel issued 2017 guidelines: do not delay peanut. For most babies, introducing peanut and other common allergens early, alongside other solids, is now the recommended approach.

When to start, based on your baby

Severe eczema, egg allergy, or both (higher risk)

Talk to your pediatrician or allergist first.
Your doctor may recommend a peanut blood test (sIgE) or skin prick test before the first taste.
Peanut may be introduced as early as 4 to 6 months. The first taste is sometimes done in the doctor's office.
Do not start on your own without that conversation.

Higher risk does not mean your baby will be allergic. It means the first taste deserves a plan.

Mild to moderate eczema

No allergy testing is required.
Introduce peanut-containing foods around 6 months, once your baby is eating solids.
Mention your plan to your pediatrician at a routine visit if you want to.

Most babies in this group can start peanut at home.

No eczema and no food allergy

Introduce peanut freely, with other solids, at an age-appropriate time.
Around 6 months is typical, when your baby can sit with support and shows interest in food.
Timing is flexible. There is no need to rush or to wait.

This is the most common situation. No special steps are needed.

How to offer peanut safely

Use smooth peanut butter, thinned. Mix about 2 teaspoons into warm water, breast milk, formula, yogurt, or pureed fruit until it is a thin, lump-free texture.
Or use a peanut puff that dissolves easily. Soften it if needed.
Offer it when your baby is healthy, alert, and not rushed, so you can watch the response.
Start with a small amount on the tip of a spoon. Wait several minutes. If there is no reaction, continue the feeding.
Introduce one new allergen at a time so you can tell what caused any reaction.
Never give whole peanuts, chunky peanut butter, or a thick glob or spoonful of plain peanut butter. These are choking hazards. Avoid whole peanuts and tree nuts until your child reliably chews well, usually at least age 4.

Introducing egg

Egg is another common allergen worth introducing early, alongside other solids around 6 months.
Serve egg well-cooked, never raw or runny. Hard-boiled and mashed, or fully scrambled, both work.
Thin or mash it to a smooth texture your baby can manage.
Offer a small amount first and watch, the same way you would with peanut.
If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, ask your pediatrician about timing.

Keep allergens in the diet

Introducing an allergen once is not enough. Keep it in the diet regularly.
In the LEAP study, infants ate about 6 grams of peanut protein per week, roughly 2 teaspoons of peanut butter at a time, spread over 3 or more feedings a week.
Aim to keep peanut and egg part of normal meals a few times a week once tolerated.
If your baby goes a long stretch without an allergen, ask your pediatrician before restarting, especially after a gap of several months.

Signs of a mild reaction: call your pediatrician

A few hives or a red, itchy rash, often around the mouth.
Redness or mild swelling of the lips.
Some vomiting or loose stool shortly after eating.
A runny nose or sneezing that starts with the food.
Reactions usually appear within minutes to a couple of hours of eating. Stop the food, watch your baby closely, and call your pediatrician for guidance. If symptoms spread or worsen, treat it as the emergency below.

Anaphylaxis: a 911 emergency

Call 911 immediately if your baby has any of these signs after eating: trouble breathing, wheezing, repeated coughing, or tightness in the throat or chest.
Swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, or trouble swallowing.
Widespread hives, or pale or bluish skin.
Repeated vomiting combined with other symptoms.
Sudden floppiness, unusual sleepiness, weak pulse, fainting, or in a baby, inconsolable crying with sudden drooling.
If epinephrine is prescribed and available, give it right away in the outer thigh muscle, then call 911. Ask for an ambulance that carries epinephrine.
Keep your baby lying on their back. If they are vomiting or struggling to breathe, turn them on their side. Give a second dose of epinephrine if symptoms do not improve in 5 minutes.
Do not wait to see if it passes. Never substitute antihistamines or an inhaler for epinephrine in a severe reaction.

Quick answers

When should I introduce peanut to my baby?: For most babies, introduce peanut early, around 6 months, once your baby is eating solids. Babies with severe eczema, egg allergy, or both are at higher risk and may start as early as 4 to 6 months, but only after talking to a pediatrician, who may recommend allergy testing first. Current NIAID guidelines say not to delay peanut, because early introduction lowers the risk of peanut allergy.
How do I give peanut butter to a baby without choking?: Never give whole peanuts, chunky peanut butter, or a thick glob of plain peanut butter, all are choking hazards. Instead, thin about 2 teaspoons of smooth peanut butter into warm water, breast milk, formula, yogurt, or puree until it is lump-free, or use a peanut puff that dissolves. Avoid whole peanuts and tree nuts until your child reliably chews well, usually at least age 4.
How often should my baby eat peanut after the first taste?: Keep it in the diet regularly, not just once. In the LEAP study, infants ate about 6 grams of peanut protein a week, roughly 2 teaspoons of peanut butter at a time, spread over 3 or more feedings a week. Aim to keep peanut and egg part of normal meals a few times a week once your baby tolerates them. If there is a long gap of several months, ask your pediatrician before restarting.
What are the signs of an allergic reaction in a baby?: Reactions usually appear within minutes to a couple of hours of eating. Mild signs include a few hives, a red itchy rash around the mouth, mild lip swelling, some vomiting, or a runny nose, call your pediatrician. Severe signs are a 911 emergency: trouble breathing, wheezing, swelling of the lips, tongue, or throat, widespread hives, pale or bluish skin, repeated vomiting, or sudden floppiness. Give prescribed epinephrine right away and call 911.
How should I introduce egg to my baby?: Introduce egg early, alongside other solids around 6 months, and serve it well-cooked, never raw or runny. Hard-boiled and mashed or fully scrambled both work; thin or mash it smooth. Offer a small amount first and watch for a reaction. Introduce one allergen at a time. If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, ask your pediatrician about timing first.

Sources & further reading

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This guide reflects current AAP and CDC guidance and is for educational purposes only. It does not constitute medical advice. ParentFlow is a wellness companion — not a substitute for your pediatrician. For any medical concern, contact your healthcare provider.