Early Peanut Introduction: How It Reduces Allergy Risk and What Parents Need to Know

When it comes to early peanut introduction, the practice of giving peanut-containing foods to infants as young as 4 to 6 months to prevent peanut allergy. Also known as peanut allergy prevention, it’s one of the most proven shifts in pediatric nutrition in the last 20 years. Before 2015, doctors told parents to delay peanuts until age 3. Then came the landmark LEAP study—showing that babies who ate peanut protein early were up to 80% less likely to develop peanut allergy by age 5. That’s not a small change. It’s a full rewrite of guidelines.

Infant food introduction, the timing and method of adding solid foods to a baby’s diet. Also known as complementary feeding, it’s not just about rice cereal anymore. For high-risk babies—those with severe eczema or egg allergy—health organizations now say: start peanut as early as 4 months, but only after checking with a doctor. For low-risk babies, you can start around 6 months, right alongside other solids. The key isn’t waiting. It’s consistency. One study found that babies who ate peanut at least three times a week had the lowest allergy rates. This isn’t about giving a child a whole spoonful of peanut butter. It’s about safe, age-appropriate forms: thinned peanut butter, peanut puff snacks, or peanut powder mixed into purees. The goal is exposure, not overfeeding.

Allergy risk reduction, the process of lowering the chance of developing an immune reaction to a common food. Also known as food allergy prevention, it works because early exposure teaches the immune system that peanuts aren’t invaders. Your baby’s gut is learning to tolerate, not fight. This same principle applies to other allergens like eggs and milk, but peanuts are the most studied. The science is clear: delay equals danger. Waiting doesn’t protect—it increases risk. And it’s not just for kids with family history. Even if no one in your family has allergies, early introduction still lowers the odds. The biggest mistake? Waiting too long. The second biggest? Giving whole peanuts or thick peanut butter—those are choking hazards. Stick to safe forms.

What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t just theories. These are real-world guides, clinical insights, and parent-tested strategies. From how to safely introduce peanut to a baby with eczema, to what to do if your child has a mild reaction, to how to keep exposure going after the first try—you’ll see exactly what works. No fluff. No guesswork. Just what the data says, and how to apply it.