The best research comes from a study of more than 600 babies. These babies had severe eczema, an egg allergy, or both, which made them more likely to have a peanut allergy in the future. The study was called the Learn Early About Peanut Allergy, or LEAP, study.   

Babies in the LEAP study were split into two groups. Group 1 was given peanut-containing foods early when they were infants, starting between 4 months and 11 months of age.  This group was given peanut foods every week. Group 2 got no peanut-containing foods at all.   

Once the children reached age 5, they were tested for peanut allergy. Here is what the researchers found:  

•  3 in 100 babies who ATE PEANUTS developed a peanut allergy.  
• 17 in 100 babies who DID NOT EAT PEANUTS developed a peanut allergy.  

This means that feeding these babies peanuts reduced their chance of developing a peanut allergy by more than 80 percent.