Giving peanuts to your baby to prevent a peanut-allergy: how do you do that?

Introduction

The traditional notion of excluding allergenic foods from babies' diets has undergone a shift in recent years. Research indicates that introducing peanuts early to babies can actually help prevent peanut allergies later in life.

Peanut allergy: Background and new perspective

Once, it was believed that avoiding allergenic foods like peanuts would protect babies from allergies. However, recent studies have shown that early introduction of peanuts can actually reduce the risk of developing a peanut allergy. These findings have led to a new perspective on introducing peanuts to babies.

Gradual introduction of peanuts

Introducing peanuts to babies requires careful planning and monitoring. Follow these steps for a safe and effective introduction:

1. Take our Vini Mini test
2. Consult a pediatricain: Talk to a pediatrician before introducing peanuts, especially if there are allergies in the family.
3. Start with the right products for your Mini (in 3 or 6 steps) according to the test result. Follow the tips below:

• Ensure your baby is accustomed to vegetable and fruit purees. Start offering mashed vegetables and fruits at 4 months. It's recommended to begin with one type of vegetable at a time. Suitable vegetables include cauliflower, peas, beans, broccoli, carrots, or pumpkin. If you want to try fruits, start with banana, peach, pear, or melon. If this goes well, you can try other types of vegetables and fruits.
• Start in the morning on a weekday. If a reaction occurs, you can always contact your doctor.
• Make sure your baby isn't ill when you start.
• Mix peanut powder into the baby's food. Blend or use a hand mixer to make it smooth if necessary.

4. Repeat and stay consistent: If there is no reaction after the initial introduction, continue offering small amounts of peanuts regularly to promote tolerance. You can use our "My First Peanut Follow-up Kit" or "My First Peanut Flips" for this.

3 different routes for giving peanuts

After taking the test, there are 3 possible outcomes for giving peanuts to your baby:

1. at home- in 3 steps
2. at home - in 6 Steps
3. Consult with doctor

Which route & schedule will you choose to introduce peanuts to your baby?

To determine the most appropriate route for your baby, we have created a decision tree in collaboration with the pediatric allergist of the Food Allergy Prevention Taskforce.

Answer  the following four questions to see which peanut introduction route suits your Mini best.

1. How old is your baby?
   Research has shown that introducing allergens under the age of 8 months is the critical treshold.
2. Does your baby have eczema?
   Babies with moderate to severe eczema have an 8-24 times increased risk of developing a food allergy.
3. Has your baby had previous reactions to food?
   If your baby has had a acute If you have had a reaction to another food, the risk of a reaction to another allergen is also higher.
   By acute response herein is meant an IgE-mediated response, in which a response of the immune system takes place. The complaints arise immediately after eating (between 1 minute and 2 hours) and usually consist of skin reactions (especially hives/hives or swelling in the face), acute vomiting, red watery eyes and runny nose and wheezing inhalation or exhalation. Pimples that appear the next day or abdominal pain 4 hours after eating are therefore not signs of an IgE-mediated allergy.
4. Is there a fear of introduction or are there allergies in the family?
   There may be anxiety in the parents because of allergies or reactions in the family. 

Take the test here!

1. Home Peanut Introduction in 3 Steps

If your baby is between 4 and 8 months old and there are no risk factors like eczema or previous reactions to food, you can give peanuts at home in 3 steps. Use "My First Peanut in 3 Steps" for this.

Over a period of 3 days, you gradually add increasing amounts of peanuts to the baby's food.

2. Home Peanut Introduction in 6 Steps

If your baby is under 6 months old and has moderate to severe eczema, or if your baby is under 8 months old with no eczema but there is fear of introduction, you can give peanuts at home using a modified 6-step schedule. Use "My First Peanut in 6 Steps" for this.

Over a period of 2 days, you gradually add increasing amounts of peanuts to the baby's food.

3. Consult with a doctor on how to introduce peanuts to your baby

If your baby is over 8 months old, has severe to moderate eczema, or has had a previous reaction to another food, consult with a doctor to determine the best approach.

Advantages of Vini Mini "My First Peanut"

Some parents wonder why they can't just give peanut butter instead of Vini Mini. We want to offer you a safe, healthy, and easy way to introduce peanuts to your Mini. Here are some advantages we'd like to mention.

Easy, Healthy & Safe

With My First Peanut products, you don't have to worry about complicated preparations. Our peanut powder is ready to use, which means you don't need to spend time measuring, mixing, or preparing. Furthermore, our peanut powder is specially designed for babies and provides a safe way to introduce allergens.

Twice the protein