No. 09 · Nuts & seeds Passport food
When can babies have peanut butter?
Can babies eat peanuts?
Babies can have peanuts from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids, in a safe form like thinned smooth peanut butter or finely ground peanuts. Peanut is a Top 9 allergen, and introducing it early and keeping it in the diet lowers the chance of peanut allergy. Whole peanuts and thick globs of peanut butter are choking hazards.
How to serve peanuts by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Stir about half to one teaspoon of smooth peanut butter into warm oatmeal, yogurt or mashed fruit, or thin it with breast milk, formula or warm water until runny, and offer it on a spoon. Finely ground peanuts or peanut powder mixed into smooth food also work. Never serve thick spoonfuls or whole nuts.
7–8 months
Keep mixing thinned peanut butter or ground peanuts into thicker oatmeal, lumpy fruit mash or yogurt. You can also spread a very thin layer of smooth peanut butter on a soft toast strip, or offer peanut puffs that dissolve quickly in the mouth.
9–12 months
Spread a very thin layer of smooth peanut butter on toast strips or soft pancake fingers, or keep mixing it into oatmeal and purees. Peanut puffs that dissolve in the mouth are another option.
12 months +
Keep peanut butter spread thinly and mix ground peanuts into baked goods, sauces and noodles. Whole and chopped peanuts stay a choking hazard until at least age 4, and spoonfuls of thick peanut butter should be avoided.
Why it’s good
Peanuts give babies protein, healthy fats, niacin, vitamin E, folate and magnesium in a small, energy-dense portion. Choose peanut butter made only from peanuts, or peanuts and a little salt, with no added sugar. Most importantly, regular early exposure helps protect against peanut allergy.
Safety notes
- Never give whole or chopped peanuts to children under 4. They are a leading choking hazard and can be inhaled into the lungs.
- Thick peanut butter can stick to the roof of the mouth and block the airway. Always thin it or spread it in a very thin layer.
- Choose smooth, not crunchy, peanut butter with no added sugar and little or no salt.
- Offer peanut for the first time at home, early in the day when baby is well, and watch for about two hours afterward.
- Babies with severe eczema or egg allergy are at higher risk of peanut allergy. Talk to your pediatrician before introducing peanut; they may suggest testing or starting as early as 4–6 months.
Introduce peanut butter on its own, then keep it in
Peanut is one of the Top 9 food allergens and one of the most common causes of severe reactions in children. Watch for hives, swelling, vomiting, coughing or trouble breathing; call emergency services right away for breathing trouble or swelling of the face or tongue.
Peanuts for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about peanuts for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have peanuts?
Babies can have peanuts from about 6 months of age, as soon as they are ready for solids, in the form of thinned smooth peanut butter or finely ground peanuts. Babies at high risk of allergy may be advised by their pediatrician to start between 4 and 6 months after an assessment.
Can babies eat peanut butter?
Yes, babies can eat peanut butter from around 6 months when it is smooth and thinned or spread very thinly. Thick globs of peanut butter and whole peanuts are not safe for babies.
Are peanuts a choking hazard for babies?
Peanuts are a high choking hazard for babies and young children. Whole and chopped peanuts should wait until at least age 4, and peanut butter should always be thinned or spread very thinly so it cannot form a sticky lump.
Is peanut a common allergen?
Peanut is a common allergen and one of the Top 9 food allergens. Introducing peanut early, around 6 months, and keeping it in the diet regularly significantly lowers the chance of developing peanut allergy.
How do I serve peanut butter to a 6 month old?
To serve peanut butter to a 6 month old, mix about half a teaspoon of smooth peanut butter into warm oatmeal or yogurt, or thin it with breast milk or formula until runny. Offer it on a pre-loaded spoon or let baby scoop with their hands.
How often should babies eat peanut once introduced?
Babies should eat peanut regularly once it is introduced, ideally a few times a week, to help keep the body tolerant. Many experts suggest about 2 teaspoons of peanut butter about three times a week (6 to 7 g of peanut protein weekly) for babies who tolerate it.
Is peanut allergy linked to tree nut allergy?
Peanut is a legume, not a tree nut, but many children with peanut allergy are also allergic to one or more tree nuts. If your child has a peanut allergy, ask your allergist before introducing tree nuts.
Are peanut puffs good for babies?
Peanut puffs that melt easily in the mouth can be a convenient way to give peanut to babies from about 7–8 months, when they start holding soft foods. At 6 months, soften the puffs in a little water, breast milk or formula and mash them into a smooth paste on a spoon, and check the label for salt.
Is peanut oil safe for babies?
Highly refined peanut oil usually has most of the allergy-causing protein removed and is generally considered safe, but cold-pressed or gourmet peanut oil can still contain peanut protein. Peanut oil does not count as introducing peanut, so use peanut butter or ground peanuts for allergen exposure.
What does a peanut allergy reaction look like in a baby?
A peanut allergy reaction in a baby usually starts within minutes to two hours and can include hives, red skin, swelling of the lips or eyes, vomiting, coughing or wheezing. Call emergency services for any breathing trouble or widespread symptoms, and see your pediatrician before offering peanut again.
The takeaway
- Babies can have peanuts from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids, in a safe form like thinned smooth peanut butter or finely ground peanuts.
- Stir about half to one teaspoon of smooth peanut butter into warm oatmeal, yogurt or mashed fruit, or thin it with breast milk, formula or warm water until runny, and offer it on a spoon.
- Choking risk is high. Peanut is one of the Top 9 allergens: offer a small amount first, watch for a reaction, then keep it in the diet regularly.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Prevention American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Peanut Allergy: What to Know About the Latest Prevention Guidelines American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Iron Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture and HHS
- Addendum Guidelines for the Prevention of Peanut Allergy in the United States Togias A, et al.; NIAID-sponsored expert panel. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017;139(1):29-44
- Randomized Trial of Peanut Consumption in Infants at Risk for Peanut Allergy (LEAP) Du Toit G, et al. N Engl J Med. 2015;372(9):803-813
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Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.