Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Cincinnati Children's Blog
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Blog
  • Healthy Living
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Heart Conditions
  • Learning and Growing
  • Research and Discoveries
  • ?
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us
HOME/Healthy Living/A Warning to Parents Considering Introducing Peanuts to Young Children

A Warning to Parents Considering Introducing Peanuts to Young Children

A Warning to Parents Considering Introducing Peanuts to Young Children
March 16, 2015
0 Comments
By: Charles Myer III, MD

By now, many parents have probably heard about the allergy study that was published in the New England Journal of Medicine, suggesting the early introduction of peanut protein decreased the frequency of the development of peanut allergies.

The validity of those findings aside, as a pediatric otolaryngologist, I would like to heed a warning to parents who might be considering introducing peanuts to babies and young children.

Peanuts are the number one item that babies and young children choke on. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that parents avoid feeding their children nuts until the age of 4.

The reasons is that infants do not have molar teeth and are therefore not able to chew the nut into a size safe enough to swallow. As an alternative, the AAP suggests that parents spread a small layer of peanut butter on a cracker once a child is at least 12 months old.

In addition to the choking risks, there is a possibility that a peanut could enter the lungs and not the stomach (meaning that they could aspirate). This is because the coordination of the swallowing muscles in babies and infants is immature.

When food enters the lungs, serious blockage can occur to breathing and the material must be removed as soon as possible so that there is no prolonged decrease in the child’s oxygen. Removal of the food requires a trip to the emergency and operating rooms.

If you are considering exposing your baby or young child to peanuts, please consult with your primary doctor about weaning and introductions of food during this process.

Subscribe today for more stories, tips, and updates.

Related Articles

4 Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Recurrent Croup
4 Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Recurrent Croup
Tips For Hosting A Food-Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Meal
Tips For Hosting A Food-Allergy-Friendly Thanksgiving Meal
COVID-19: I Took My Daughter to A Doctor’s Appointment
COVID-19: I Took My Daughter to A Doctor’s Appointment
Snoring: Is it Normal in Kids?
Snoring: Is it Normal in Kids?
TAGS:
  • food allergy
  • otolaryngology

About the author: Charles Myer III, MD

Dr. Charles Myer III is a pediatric otolaryngologist at Cincinnati Children’s. His special interests include head and neck tumors, airway problems, congenital abnormalities and sinus disease. He is also the past president of the American Society of Pediatric Otolaryngology.

Write A Comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

No Comments Yet

Topics

  • Cancer and Blood Diseases
  • Child Development and Behavior
  • Childhood Obesity
  • Chronic Care Networks
  • Cincinnati Walks for Kids
  • Featured Faces
  • Fetal Conditions
  • Fitness and Nutrition
  • Food Allergies
  • Ghana 2012
  • Health Care Public Policy
  • Health Care Quality
  • Health Care Reform
  • Healthy Living
  • Heart Conditions
  • Hospital Operations
  • How We Do It
  • Learning and Growing
  • Meet The Team
  • Nurses Week 2012
  • Patient Family Experience
  • Patient Flow
  • Patient Safety
  • Patient Stories
  • Pin of the Week
  • Radiology
  • Rare and Complex Conditions
  • Research
  • Research and Discoveries
  • Safety and Prevention
  • Share Your Story
  • Technology
  • Uncategorized
  • Vaccines
  • Volunteerism
  • What Makes Us Different
  • What's New
See All Topics
See Less Topics

Subscribe

Never miss a post! Sign up to get new blog updates delivered to your email.

Popular Posts

  • 6 Questions to Ask When Your Child Complains of Chest Pain 1.9k views
  • Caring for the Caregivers of Children with Congenital Heart Disease  1.3k views
  • Stuttering In Young Kids: When To Be Concerned 839 views
  • Laryngomalacia: Is My Child’s Noisy Breathing Serious? 630 views
  • 4 Questions to Ask When Your Child Has Recurrent Croup 559 views
  • What’s the difference between a CAT-Scan and a CT-Scan? 492 views
About

The Cincinnati Children’s blog features thoughts and perspectives from our experts on all things pediatric health. This blog does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Learn More »

Contact Us
  • 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3026
  • 1-513-636-4200 | 1-800-344-2462
  • TTY: 1-513-636-4900
  • socialmedia@cchmc.org
Connect With Us
  • Subscribe
  • CincinnatiChildrens.org
  • Contact Us

© 2009-2022 Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center