I have a two year old with a moderate peanut allergy. I'm convinced that early introduction at 6 months and oral immunotherapy have saved him from a more severe allergy.
Interestingly, multiple allergists we've spoken to have alluded to a recent theory (not sure if supported by the literature) that a child is more likely to develop an allergy if the allergen is first introduced through the skin than through the gut, especially if the skin exposure involves inflammation like eczema. Their advice was to make sure new allergens get in the mouth and not all over the skin early on.
Oh man! Let me tell you something…I have 3 kids 3 and under and spaghetti nights are crazy. My 3 year old is better but my 1.5 year old is a hot mess. He has to be shitless during most meals or else the shirt isn’t going to last. Everything is smeared on his face and arms when he eats, even with a watchful parent it only takes half a second.
We’ve noticed spaghetti sauce will start to give him a rash on his belly only.
My 5 month old had beets last night for the first time and a full bath was not optional.
I can confirm this. I have two kids under 4 along with several nieces and nephews. Kids are unbelievably messy when they first learn to eat. Food ends up in places you never thought imaginable. Mealtimes always involve a "blast radius" of food products spilled / smeared / dropped / thrown / regurgitated.
Because peanuts are oily as all get out and every young kid that eats peanut butter is literally covered in it and will rub it on everything they touch, including kids that don't eat peanuts yet.
Interestingly, multiple allergists we've spoken to have alluded to a recent theory (not sure if supported by the literature) that a child is more likely to develop an allergy if the allergen is first introduced through the skin than through the gut, especially if the skin exposure involves inflammation like eczema. Their advice was to make sure new allergens get in the mouth and not all over the skin early on.