We live in a age where we are bombarded from all different sources with information and many times that information conflicts. We recently had the chance to talk with Dr. Weiss, a local otolaryngologist, about new recommendations in giving peanuts to children and the risks of choking, This will hopefully clear up some of those conflicts for you about giving your child peanuts and peanut butter.
ABOUT DR. WEISS
Board-certified Otolaryngologist-Head and Neck Surgeon, Dr. Robert Weiss is the founder of CT Center for Advanced ENT Care (CT ENT) in Norwalk. He is an active staff member of Norwalk Hospital and a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Weiss treats all aspects of ear, nose, and throat problems in children and has distinguished his practice utilizing the latest technology for better outcomes and safety. For more information please visit http://www.ct-ent.com/ or call 203-652-8424.
New Peanut Recommendations Can Cause Choking Risks in Young Children
Recent news coverage about exposing babies to peanuts early to avoid food allergies in adulthood sounds positive, but it could have unintended disastrous outcomes. As a pediatric ENT and head and neck surgeon, Dr. Weiss has seen firsthand the dangers of choking, especially on peanuts. Dr. Weiss has put together a Q/A on the choking risks of nuts to help keep your child safe:
Is it true that recent studies have found that it is okay for parents to feed babies and young children peanuts?
The news coverage generated from the LEAP (Learning Early About Peanut allergy) study published in the NEJM Feb 2015 consistently uses the phrase “peanut” when referring to the food that the study is recommending parents give their toddlers. However, the peanut protein used in the study was a peanut snack called “Bamba”, a type of puffed food similar to cheese doodles that is popular in Israel. ENT’s who treat children fear that parents who Google these articles can be misled into thinking it is okay to give young children peanuts.
At what age is it appropriate to introduce nuts into a child’s diet?
The American Academy of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery is recommending parents avoid feeding peanuts (or any nut) to children less than 6 years of age for any reason due to choking risks.
Why are peanuts considered a choking hazard?
Food items such as nuts, seeds, and food particles have been implicated in 70 percent to 90 percent of choking cases involving infants and toddlers. Various types of nuts top the list of aspirated foreign bodies. Peanuts are the number one item that babies and children under the age of three choke on, sometimes with deadly results.
Infants do not have molar teeth and are not able to chew the nut into a size that they can swallow safely. In addition, the coordination of the swallowing muscles in babies and infants is immature, which also increases the chance that the peanut will enter their lungs and not their stomachs. Parents should also avoid giving young children peanut butter as it is thick and sticky and would be difficult to clear in the event that the baby chokes.
Is there a way for parents to safely introduce babies and young children to peanuts?
It is important that parents realize that exposure to peanut antigen in babies at-risk for allergy should take place in a physician’s office where the babies can be carefully monitored. An appropriate trial should NOT include the eating of peanuts or peanut products.
Stay tuned next month for more from Dr. Weiss on tips for back to school.
This post was prepared in partnership with CT Center for Advanced ENT Care (CT ENT) in Norwalk.