Introducing Allergens to Baby

Current pediatric guidance has shifted away from delaying allergenic foods. Here’s what the American Academy of Pediatrics says about when and how to introduce foods like peanut and egg, and why babies at higher risk need a different, pediatrician-guided approach.

The AAP now recommends introducing common allergenic foods — including peanut, egg, dairy, and sesame — around the time a baby is developmentally ready for solids, generally around 6 months, rather than delaying them. Research the AAP cites found no benefit to delaying these foods, and early, regular introduction may actually help lower the chance of developing a food allergy. Babies with severe eczema or an existing egg allergy are considered higher risk, and the AAP recommends talking with your pediatrician first about how and when to introduce allergenic foods for these babies specifically.

When and How to Introduce Allergenic Foods

Once your baby is developmentally ready for solid foods — generally around 6 months, and after you’ve already started some other solids without issue — the AAP’s current guidance is to introduce common allergens rather than avoid or delay them. This includes foods like peanut, egg, dairy, wheat, soy, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, and sesame.

The AAP recommends offering these foods in infant-appropriate forms: a small taste of smooth peanut butter thinned with water, breast milk, or formula and mixed into cereal or yogurt, for example — never whole nuts or a spoonful of thick peanut butter, both of which are choking hazards for infants. Start with a small amount, watch for a reaction, and if it’s tolerated, continue offering that food regularly as part of your baby’s diet rather than a one-time introduction.

Babies at Higher Risk

The AAP identifies babies with severe eczema or an already-diagnosed egg allergy as higher risk for developing food allergies. For these babies, the AAP recommends talking with your pediatrician before introducing highly allergenic foods — your pediatrician may recommend introducing certain foods earlier, may want to do it in the office under observation, or may recommend allergy testing first, depending on your baby’s specific history.

This higher-risk guidance doesn’t apply to every baby with mild dry skin or a family history of allergies in general — it’s specifically tied to severe eczema or an existing food allergy, which is why an individual conversation with your pediatrician matters more than a general rule for these situations.

Know the signs of a serious allergic reaction — hives, swelling of the face or lips, vomiting, difficulty breathing, or unusual lethargy shortly after eating a new food — and call 911 or your local emergency number immediately if they appear. This page does not cover emergency allergy treatment; if your baby has a diagnosed food allergy, follow the specific emergency action plan your pediatrician or allergist has given you.

Sources

This guide is based on published guidance from the American Academy of Pediatrics via HealthyChildren.org (“When to Introduce Egg, Peanut Butter & Other Common Food Allergens to a Baby”). It’s provided for general education — always talk with your pediatrician before introducing allergenic foods if your baby has severe eczema, an existing food allergy, or any other condition that may affect the timing.

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