Updated: June 4, 2026

Many parents worry about when it's okay to start feeding their babies peanuts and other nuts.
🔸There was a time when it was thought that foods causing allergies should be delayed.
🔸 It is now understood that unnecessarily delaying the introduction of foods that are common allergens does not lead to the prevention of food allergies.
Specifically regarding peanuts, it has been shown that introducing small amounts in an age-appropriate and safe manner from infancy may lead to the prevention of peanut allergies.
However, whole peanuts and nuts pose a risk of aspiration and choking.
This article explains how to introduce peanuts and nuts to babies, the order of allergy checks, and symptoms to watch out for. National Center for Child Health and Development: "Allergenic foods such as nuts can be safely consumed from the early stages of complementary feeding without choking or aspiration."

The common understanding of food allergies is constantly changing, and we will update it accordingly.

Are peanuts and nuts the same thing?

🔸Despite its name "nut," peanuts are botanically classified as legumes.
On the other hand, walnuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and macadamia nuts are tree nuts, also called tree nuts.
Peanuts and tree nuts are different foods.
Just because you can eat peanuts doesn't mean you'll be fine with walnuts or cashews.
When trying for the first time, test each one individually, in small amounts, on different days.

When can babies eat peanuts?

Peanuts can be introduced in small amounts once your baby has started solid foods and can safely swallow pureed foods.
The general guideline is from around 5 to 6 months of age.
However, consult a doctor before starting for children with severe eczema, children who already have an egg allergy, or children strongly suspected of having food allergies.
🔸Blood tests and skin prick tests may be considered as needed.

How to give peanuts

When giving it for the first time, use unsweetened, unsalted peanut butter or peanut paste.
It can be too sticky and difficult to swallow as is.
Mix well with hot water, cooled water, milk, or porridge to a smooth, thick consistency before feeding.
🔸Start with about one spoonful of earwax.
If there are no problems, I will gradually increase the amount.
Choose a day when you feel well to try it for the first time.
We recommend visiting during times that are easy to access when symptoms appear, such as weekdays during the day.

How to choose peanut butter/peanut cream

If using for an infant allergy check, choose unsweetened, unsalted peanut butter or peanut paste instead of sweet peanut cream.
When checking the ingredients, we recommend products made solely from "peanuts" if possible.
Items containing a lot of sugar, salt, vegetable oils, shortening, margarine, honey, etc. are not suitable for allergy testing in babies.
Also, avoid those with grains, crunchy textures, or a strong grittiness, and choose smooth, paste-like ones.
Since peanut butter and peanut paste are sticky, do not give them as is. Instead, mix them well with hot water, cooled boiled water, milk, or porridge until they have a smooth, runny consistency, and then give them in small amounts.

Should I continue with peanuts?

If you start eating peanuts and have no problems, continue with a small amount within your means.
This is different from "oral immunotherapy" performed on children who already have a peanut allergy.
This is the concept of incorporating it into your daily diet in an age-appropriate way while ensuring there are no allergies.
Research shows that early and continued consumption of peanuts reduces the incidence of peanut allergies.
However, this does not mean that you have to eat it every time.
On days when you don't feel well or your eczema is worsening, don't push yourself. Resume when you've settled down.

When did tree nuts first appear?

Tree nuts include walnuts, cashews, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, and macadamia nuts.
There's no need to unnecessarily delay introducing tree nuts just because of allergy concerns.
Recent studies suggest that introducing multiple allergenic foods to infants may reduce the overall risk of food allergies.
On the other hand, compared to peanuts and eggs, the preventive effects of individual tree nuts such as walnuts, cashews, and almonds have not yet been sufficiently established.
Therefore, it's best to think of tree nuts not as something to "rush into," but rather to "try small amounts of powders or pastes once your baby's weaning is progressing and they can safely swallow pureed foods."
If you're concerned, consult your doctor before proceeding.

How to give tree nuts

If you are trying tree nuts, you can use nut powder or nut paste.
Do not give nut powder directly into the mouth. Mix a small amount thoroughly into foods like porridge, yogurt, or vegetable paste until there is no powdery or gritty texture remaining, then feed it.
🔸Nut butters can also be sticky and difficult to swallow as they are, so they should be thinned with hot water, cooled boiled water, rice porridge, yogurt, etc., to a smooth consistency.
When using powders or pastes, ensure there is no powdery, gritty, or lumpy texture remaining. Always mix them to a smooth consistency before serving.
🔸Start by mixing about one spoonful of earwax into food.
On the same day as peanuts, avoid trying walnuts and cashews together.
I will check each type on a different day.

What is the order for checking nut allergies?

When trying nuts for the first time, it's important not to give them various types all on the same day.
First, we often start with peanuts, which are well-researched.
Even if there are no issues with peanuts, walnuts, cashews, almonds, etc., are considered separate foods.
🔸When trying the following nuts, start with a small amount on a different day.
For example, we will proceed as follows.

Day 1
Peanut paste, thinned well with hot water or porridge, a small amount
Let's wait and see for 2-3 days.
If there are no problems, continue with a small amount within a reasonable range.
On another day, mix a small amount of walnut powder well into things like porridge or yogurt and check.
Another day
Dilute the cashew nut paste well with hot water or porridge and check.
By checking each type one by one like this, it becomes easier to understand the cause when symptoms appear.

⚠️ Do not give whole nuts to children under 5 years old.

🔸When it comes to peanuts and nuts, allergies aren't the only concern.
There is a risk of choking or suffocation.
Do not give whole peanuts, almonds, walnuts, cashews, etc., to children under 5 years of age.
Even small, crushed nuts can enter the trachea.
When foreign objects enter the trachea, they can cause not only choking but also subsequent coughing, wheezing, fever, and pneumonia.
When giving to babies and small children, always make sure it is in powder or paste form and smooth.

What to do with a baby who has eczema?

Babies with eczema are thought to be more susceptible to allergens entering through their skin, which increases their risk of developing food allergies.
It's important to proceed with your baby's solid food introduction while properly managing eczema treatment, rather than simply delaying foods you're concerned about regarding food allergies.
If eczema is mild and well-controlled, you can try introducing foods gradually, starting with small amounts, according to the usual progression of solid foods.
🔸 On the other hand, if eczema is severe, does not improve easily, the patient already has an egg allergy, or has experienced symptoms from food, please consult a doctor without self-diagnosing.

Symptoms to watch out for after eating ambulance

After eating peanuts or nuts, you may experience the following symptoms:
Hives, swelling of the face, eyelids, and lips, redness around the mouth, coughing, wheezing, difficulty breathing, vomiting, abdominal pain
Diarrhea, listlessness, bad mood, pale complexion
🔸If you have multiple symptoms after eating, such as skin rash, coughing, wheezing, vomiting, or lethargy, it may be anaphylaxis.
Please consult a medical institution immediately.
If they are having difficulty breathing, are listless, have a pale complexion, or are unresponsive, they need to seek emergency medical care.

Consult your doctor before visiting if your child has these symptoms.

🔸Children with the following conditions should consult a pediatrician before starting peanuts and nuts:
I have severe eczema.
My eczema isn't getting better.
I already have an egg allergy.
I've had hives and vomiting from other foods.
I have had anaphylaxis before.
My family is feeling very anxious.
If you're unsure about the amount or method of feeding, it's reassuring to consult with someone before proceeding.

Is it too late to start introducing peanuts at 1 year old?

It's never too late, even from age 1.
If you haven't eaten it before, start with a small amount in a safe way appropriate for your age.
🔸Even at 1 year old, do not give granular peanuts or nuts due to the risk of choking.
Mix unsweetened, unsalted peanut butter or peanut paste with hot water, yogurt, or porridge, etc., to smooth it out, and try it in small amounts.
If you are concerned or have eczema or food allergies, please consult your pediatrician before starting.

What if a 1-year-old ate a whole nut?

Even if you accidentally swallow a grain of nuts, if you are immediately well and do not experience choking, coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, or pale complexion, observe the situation closely at first.
However, if you choke severely when eating, have a persistent cough, wheeze, appear to have difficulty breathing, have a pale complexion, or lack energy, please consult a medical institution promptly.
If nuts enter the trachea, they can later cause coughing, fever, and pneumonia.
🔸Also, if you experience hives, swelling of the eyelids or lips, vomiting, coughing, or listlessness, it may be an allergic reaction.
If symptoms are severe or if you have multiple symptoms, please consider seeking emergency medical attention.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

A. When you eat peanuts for the first time, is it okay to eat a small amount at night?

🔸For your first time taking it, we recommend a time when it's easy to visit a doctor, such as during weekday daytime hours.
At night or on holidays, the options for seeking advice when symptoms appear may be limited.

A. Is redness around the mouth an allergic reaction?

Food can get around the mouth and cause redness due to irritation.
However, if you experience hives spreading, swelling of the face or lips, coughing, wheezing, vomiting, or lethargy, it may indicate an allergic reaction.
If you are unsure, please take a photo and consult with us during your visit.

If peanuts are okay, are walnuts okay too?

Peanuts and walnuts are different foods.
Just because you can eat peanuts doesn't mean tree nuts like walnuts and cashews will be okay.
🔸On another day, I will try them one type at a time in small quantities.

Q. Do I have to give them nuts every day?

It doesn't have to be every day.
Foods that can be eaten without problems will be continued as much as possible.
🔸This does not mean that you will increase the dosage at home to treat your allergy.
On days when you're not feeling well or your eczema is worsening, don't push yourself. Rest and resume when you feel better.

Q. My family has a nut allergy. Can I try this at home?

Just because a family member has a food allergy doesn't necessarily mean the baby will have the same allergy.
If you have strong anxieties or if your baby has eczema, please consult a pediatrician before starting.

Summary

The approach to peanuts and nuts is shifting from "delaying them as much as possible due to allergy concerns" to "introducing them in a safe manner, in small amounts, and at a comfortable pace."
Peanuts can be introduced in small amounts once the baby has progressed with their weaning and can safely swallow paste-like foods.
While there's no need to unnecessarily delay tree nuts like walnuts and cashews, their preventative effect isn't as well-established as that of peanuts, so there's no need to rush them.
🔸 Do not give whole or crushed nuts to children under 5 years of age.
When using powders or pastes, mix them into food or spread them well until smooth, without any powdery, gritty, or lumpy texture, before feeding.
If your child has eczema, already has food allergies, or you are concerned about the process, consult with your pediatrician.

References

Togias A, Cooper SF, Acebal ML, et al. Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017.

Du Toit G, Roberts G, Sayre PH, et al. Randomized Trial of Peanut Consumption in Infants at Risk for Peanut Allergy. New England Journal of Medicine. 2015.

Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW. The Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children. Pediatrics. 2019.

Scarpone R, Kimkool P, Ierodiakonou D, et al. Timing of Allergenic Food Introduction and Risk of Immunoglobulin E–Mediated Food Allergy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. JAMA Pediatrics. 2023.

Trogen B, Jacobs S, Nowak-Wegrzyn A. Early Introduction of Allergenic Foods and the Prevention of Food Allergy. Nutrients. 2022.

Harama D, Saito-Abe M, Hamaguchi S, et al. Feasibility and Safety of the Early Introduction of Allergenic Foods in Asian Infants With Eczema. Nutrients. 2024.

Palmer DJ, et al. Feasibility and Safety of Introducing Cashew Nut Spread in Infant Diets. Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 2023.

Soriano VX, Ciciulla D, Gell G, et al. Complementary and Allergenic Food Introduction in Infants: An Umbrella Review. Pediatrics. 2023.

Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare "Support Guide for Breastfeeding and Introduction of Solids" 2019 Revised Edition

The Consumer Affairs Agency warns: "Do not give hard beans or nuts to children under 5 years old."