at what age OK to eat shrimp?

[Anonymous]

DS just turned two but we don't have our 2YO MD appt for another month. I think I heard that at the age of 2 it's OK to eat shellfish (and maybe peanuts? - but that's another post).

Is it OK to offer him shrimp now? Does it need to be cooked through more than a restaurant would ordinarily? or should we just wait a bit longer to be safe?

TIA

[Anonymous]

I can't recall specifically feeding him shrimp, but we feed my son (now ~18 months) whatever we eat, unless it's a choking hazard. So he's had peanut butter, and I wouldn't hesitate to try shellfish. I think it's really just based on your comfort level, family history of allergies, etc.

[Anonymous]

I know for peanuts the usual recommendations is 3, and think seafood is the same?

[Anonymous]

i think the rec for no peanuts until 3 is if there's a history of allergies in the family or signs in the child. our ped said it was fine after 1. we have given our not quite 2 year old shrimp (don't think he really liked it) once or twice, not until he was 18 months or so.

[Anonymous]

I also understood age 3 for both shellfish and peanuts. Some people do earlier, but I think it is a judgment call depending on how strict you want to be on the AAP advice vs. family history.

[Anonymous]

I would wait. The recommendation is for 3. I developed food allergies as an adult, so now know more than I wish to about this stuff. Shellfish allergies are not something you want to fool around with. They, along with nut allergies, can be very severe and life threatening.

One of my kids reacted when DH inadvertently fed her shellfish at the beach at age 2 (fortunately not a major reaction; just a dash to the store for baby benadryl). We waited a whole year, and she was fine the next year when she tried it at age 3.

[Anonymous]

Some recommend doing it earlier rather than later, so you're sure their first experiences eating potentially harmful foods are at home, where you can be ready for a reaction if there is one. Once they spend more time out and about, they are likely to be given foods like nuts or peanut butter --on a playdate or at a birthday party, for example.

[Anonymous]

In Jan 2008 the AAP reversed their position saying there was no evidence that delaying the introduction of allergenic foods (nuts, shellfish, etc) prevents allergies.

http://www.parentdish.com/2008/01/07/aap-issues-new-advice-on-kids-allergies/

http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;121/1/183

[Anonymous]

My DS is 2 now, and he has been eating shrimp and all other fish/shellfish since he was 12 months. The AAP only recommends waiting until 3 if you have a history of food allergies. Otherwise, it is fine to try after 12 months (some groups also say it is fine after 6 months). Of course, there are going to be people on here who's DC had an allergic reaction even though there was no family history. But only 4-8% of children actually have a food allergy, so those are pretty good odds in your favor that your child won't have one. Also, if you were living in a fish-centric country, like Japan, your child would be exposed to shellfish at a young age.

As for your second question, it does not need to be cooked any more than what it is cooked for you. A good way to introduce shrimp if your child has an issue with the texture, is to try popcorn shrimp or coconut shrimp. They will probably enjoy the fried outside, and it will help them get used to the different texture and taste of the shrimp and they will eventually eat it on its own.

[Anonymous]

Our pediatrician said our children could eat what we were eating once they turned one - fish, peanut butter, etc.

[Anonymous]

Here is something to think about, shifting recommendations aside: consider whether your child would be able to communicate effectively if s/he was having an anaphylactic reaction before you serve peanuts, shellfish, etc.

Everyone's going to have her own idea about when this would be. I think it's a pragmatic rule of thumb.

[Anonymous]

Peanut butter is a choking hazard, though. Spread it thin. (If it were to get stuck, it is hard to dislodge.)

[Anonymous]

Fed DS shellfish when he was about 1, along with many other kinds of fish, and he's had no problem. He loves sashimi and has been eating it since he was 18 months old, maybe younger. We waited until DS was 2 to try peanut butter and he had a very bad reaction involving a trip to the hospital.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Here is something to think about, shifting recommendations aside: consider whether your child would be able to communicate effectively if s/he was having an anaphylactic reaction before you serve peanuts, shellfish, etc.

Everyone's going to have her own idea about when this would be. I think it's a pragmatic rule of thumb.

This is what both our allergist and ped GI mentioned.

There isn't yet enough evidence to know when it is really best to give it from an allergenic standpoint -- but you can be certain that a 3yo will be able to tell you they're feeling funny before you'll see your 1yo start vomiting from the reaction. Seconds and minutes matter. I chose to wait.

For what it is worth, it is NOT only a family history of food allergies but of any allergic condition -- asthma, eczema, environmental, etc. It is one big allergic lottery as to how allergies will display in any child.

[Anonymous]

Seafood alert!
Due to the oil spill in the Gulf, all fish and seafood originating there should NOT be eaten. Please check the origin of your seafood, and pass if the location is not mentioned.