Today's Article

But in 2015, research caused experts to 4flip-flop.

The current guidelines say introducing these foods in 5infancy can actually help prevent food allergies.

"The end goal is to see this 6tide turn."

A new study published in the journal Pediatrics 7determined about 60,000 children have avoided food allergies since guidelines changed, including 40,000 children who otherwise would have developed peanut allergies. Still, about 8% of children are affected by food allergies, including more than 2% with a peanut allergy.

"There's been a lot of fear."

Dr. Ruchi Gupta says that fear may have stopped some from following the guidelines, but she says parents should start introducing peanut products as soon as their baby is ready to eat 8solid foods, usually around four to six months.

"Use like peanut butter — smooth peanut butter — and then thin it out with breast milk, formula, applesauce, whatever you desire, and then slowly introduce it to your baby, a little bit on the lip and let them 9lick it, add a little bit more."

Gupta says when introducing peanut products, parents should 10watch out for signs of an allergy like 11rash, 12hives and 13vomiting. She says those are the most common 14symptoms in babies with a food allergy.

"But if they eat it just fine, then I recommend just keeping it in their diet, keeping it in two to three times a week, and hopefully, that way they go on to enjoying it."