Since 2015, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that parents and caregivers introduce peanuts to children's diets at around four to six months old to avoid the onset of a peanut allergy. In this episode: Pediatric allergist David Hill explains why early allergen introduction is safe and effective and how these recommendations have led to a significant reduction in peanut allergies in children.

Dr. David Hill, PhD, is an allergist, immunologist, and an attending physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. He is also an assistant professor of pediatrics at the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania.

Stephanie Desmon, MA, is a former journalist, author, and the director of public relations and communications for the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs.

• Guidelines for Early Food Introduction and Patterns of Food Allergy—Pediatrics

• Peanut Allergies Have Plummeted in Children, Study Shows—New York Times

• Randomized Trial of Peanut Consumption in Infants at Risk for Peanut Allergy—New England Journal of Medicine

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