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How to Introduce Common Allergens to Babies
For most babies, common allergens such as peanut, egg, dairy, wheat, soy, fish, sesame, and tree nuts can be introduced around 6 months, one at a time, in a baby-safe texture. If the food is tolerated, keep serving it regularly. Do not delay these foods until age 1.
The current rule of thumb
Delaying peanut and egg has been associated with more allergy, not less. Early introduction is now the default for most infants.
High-risk babies — severe eczema or an existing food allergy — need a clinician’s plan and sometimes testing before peanut.
A practical first-taste method
- Offer the food at home, not at daycare, in the morning
- Start with a smear or a few flakes
- Wait about 10–15 minutes, then continue the meal if all is well
- If tolerated, serve that food twice a week
What to watch for
Hives, vomiting, swelling of lips or tongue, coughing, or breathing changes need urgent care. A little redness around the mouth from acidic fruit is not the same thing.
Frequently asked questions
Do I introduce only one new food per week?
You do not have to move that slowly for non-allergen foods. For the major allergens, introducing them on separate days makes it clearer which food caused a reaction.
Sources
- Addendum guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy in the United States — NIAID
- Food Allergies in Babies and Children — American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- Starting Solid Foods — American Academy of Pediatrics
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods — CDC
- Complementary feeding — World Health Organization
- Your baby’s first solid foods — NHS
Reviewed by Morvarid Nikousokhantayar.