Nuts aren't the only allergen on a new parent's radar. Egg, peanut and tree nuts are three of the most common food allergens in Australian babies, and the latest guidance says the same thing about all three: don't wait, and don't skip them.
The common allergens
In Australia and New Zealand, the foods most associated with allergy include cow's milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, wheat, soy, sesame, fish and shellfish. ASCIA's guideline recommends offering well-cooked egg and age-appropriate peanut soon after your baby starts solids, rather than waiting, and continuing to offer them at least once a week afterwards to help maintain tolerance. The evidence behind this shift is strong: studies have found that early, regular exposure to egg and peanut can meaningfully reduce the chance of a baby developing an allergy to them.
Egg
Offer well-cooked whole egg, think hard-boiled and mashed, or a soft scramble, not raw or runny egg (undercooked egg carries both an allergy risk and a food safety risk). Mix mashed hard-boiled egg into a puree your baby already knows, starting with a small amount and building up over a few days.
Peanut
Offer smooth peanut butter, paste, powder or finely ground peanut. Never whole peanuts or peanut pieces, which are a serious choking hazard. Start with around a quarter teaspoon thinned with breastmilk, formula, water or puree, and build up gradually over the following days.
Tree nuts
The same rule applies: smooth nut butter, paste or finely milled nut only, no whole or chopped nuts until your child is old enough to chew them safely (usually from about 4 to 5 years). If your baby tolerates one tree nut well, closely related nuts (cashew and pistachio, or walnut and pecan) are sometimes introduced with a little less caution, though it's still worth doing a proper first taste and watching for any reaction. Finely milled single-nut butters make this easy, so you can work through almond, cashew, hazelnut, macadamia, pistachio, pecan, walnut and brazil one at a time, at whatever pace suits your baby.
A suggested rhythm
- Introduce one new allergen at a time, a few days apart, so it's easy to tell what caused a reaction, if any.
- Offer the first taste at home, in the morning, so you can watch your baby for a couple of hours afterwards.
- Start small (around a quarter teaspoon) and build up gradually over several days.
- Once introduced and tolerated, keep the food in the regular rotation, at least once a week, ideally twice, rather than a one-off taste.
- There isn't a strict correct order for egg, peanut and tree nuts. Many families start with whichever is easiest to prepare safely, then work through the rest over the following weeks.
Signs of a reaction to watch for
Mild: a rash around the mouth, hives, or an upset tummy. Serious: swelling of the lips, face or eyes, a hoarse voice, persistent cough, vomiting, paleness, floppiness, or difficulty breathing. Serious signs need urgent medical attention.
This article is general information only, not medical advice. If your baby has severe eczema, an existing food allergy, or you're at all unsure, talk to your GP, paediatrician or allergist before introducing these foods. If you notice signs of a serious reaction, call 000 immediately.
Frequently asked questions
Should I introduce egg or peanut first? There's no required order. Some families start with whichever is easier to prepare that week.
My baby has eczema, does that change things? It might. Babies with moderate to severe eczema are at higher risk of food allergy, so it's worth talking to your GP about testing before you start, rather than stopping altogether.
Do I need to keep offering these foods forever? Regular exposure through the first few years of life is what maintains tolerance, most guidelines suggest continuing at least until age 5.
Where Willow Tree Foods fits in
We can't help with the egg, but we've got the nut side covered. Our 40g jars are single-ingredient, finely milled, and free from added salt, sugar or oil, so introducing tree nuts is one less thing to overthink. Starting with peanut? Our finely milled peanut butter makes a safe first taste, and the Nut Butter Starter Pack covers all nine in one go.
Source: ASCIA Guideline, Infant Feeding for Food Allergy Prevention.