Growing up, you must start introducing different types of food for children. One that you can try to introduce is peanut butter. The savory sweet taste might attract the attention of your little one. The protein content is also high enough to fill the stomach. However, giving peanut butter to small children should not be arbitrary. The sticky texture of peanut butter can make babies who are not old enough to choke. So, at what age do parents allow babies to eat peanut butter?
When should babies eat peanut butter?
Reported from Healthline, The American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology recommends parents who want to introduce peanut butter to start giving it if the baby is 6-8 months old.
However, make sure your child is used to eating other solid foods before getting acquainted with peanut butter. Also make sure the baby does not show peanut allergies.
What is the best way to introduce peanut butter to babies?
Before starting to introduce peanut butter to babies, you have to choose the type of jam. Choose a smooth peanut butter, not milling, let alone having large peanut grains. Check the product label for the "smooth" description.
Grains of beans mixed in jam can cause babies to choke because they cannot chew properly. Beans, whether in whole or in pieces, may only be given to children over 4 years of age.
When you first give your baby to eat peanut butter, it's best to start with half a teaspoon of fine peanut butter. Or, you can dilute the texture slightly with warm water to make it easier for the baby to swallow.
Alternatively, you can mix the diluted peanut butter on cereal porridge or child biscuit porridge as a flavor enhancer. Make sure the pulp texture is smooth evenly so that it doesn't cause the baby to choke.
If your little one can hold a solid object, you can serve baby biscuits that have been dipped in runny peanut butter.
Be careful of symptoms of peanut allergy
According to Food Allergy Research and Education (FARE), peanuts are one of the eight main foods that often cause food allergies. That's why many parents prefer to delay introducing an allergic food type, until the baby grows up.
In fact, this method is still unable to prevent the risk of allergies in your child. Conversely, if you want to reduce the risk of food allergies, you should introduce them to some new foods at the beginning of their age.
Then how to find out if your baby is at risk for peanut butter allergies or not? Well, it's best after you introduce new foods to your little one, wait around two to three days later if you want to switch to other types of food. This is not only true for peanut butter, also for every new food you introduce to your baby.
Every time you give your baby new food, pay attention to whether he has an allergic reaction such as itching, redness, or diarrhea. If this happens, you should stop giving the food for a while, and immediately consult your pediatrician.