All children are at risk of developing food allergies.  If you think this is someone else’s problem, think again. You don’t want to roll the dice and avoid food allergens.  Common food allergens like milk, egg, nuts, and sesame are naturally nutritious, from diverse food groups and are typically high in protein and fiber all of which support a healthy gut microbiome. 

If you suspect your child may have a higher chance of a food allergy (e.g. your child has severe eczema and or egg allergy), talk to your doctor about how to get allergens in the diet safely.  For example, allergy testing or even a food challenge with an allergist the first time you feed certain allergens may be a good idea.

As soon as your child can start eating solid foods, you could start feeding allergens. It depends on their development, but most are ready between ages 4-6 months.

Some signs that your baby may be ready to start solid foods are: 

1. Being able to control the head and neck
2. Sitting up with or without support
3. Bringing objects to the mouth
4. Losing the tongue thrust reflex that pushes food out of the mouth
5. Showing an interest in food and reaching for it

Not unless your child already has a food allergy, or is at high risk to develop a food allergy, for example with early onset, persistent, and/or moderate-severe eczema. Eczema that has been infected with staph or that is in exposed anatomical regions also increases the risk for food allergy. In these cases, you may want to see an allergist to discuss food allergies before introducing any other major allergens. But ultimately, it's up to you and if you just want to.

If your child has a known or suspected allergy to any food, he or she must avoid that food entirely while you seek an allergist’s advice to make sure that the suspected allergy is true. Many people who think they have a food allergy do not, and if your child doesn’t have one, you need to feed it before he or she actually does. Find an allergist who does allergy testing, such as skin pricks or blood work, and also offers food challenges.

If the food allergy is confirmed, seek an expert to discuss treatment options. Treatment options are generally more effective when commenced earlier on the allergy journey, usually in the toddler years.

Talk to your doctor about how to get other typical food allergens he or she is not allergic to yet into the diet to be proactive about those allergies. This is an important intervention as your food-allergic child may be at higher risk of more food allergies.

This is not a one-and-done and like many things, practice makes perfect. Your child’s immune system needs regular training through the early years to be sure it learns to tolerate the foods long-term.

The LEAP patients who were fed peanut multiple times for 5 years developed the most protection. It may seem overwhelming to keep it up for 5 years and that's ok. Focus on getting these foods in regularly the first year of life when it is most important. Then aim for 6 months at a time and you may be surprised how far you get. Even if you don’t quite make it to 5 years, know that every bit counts and will make a difference for your child.

A summary of early allergen introduction studies showed us that the first year of life is the safest time to introduce common allergens, and the earlier the better, especially if at increased risk of developing food allergies.

That’s why the USDA Dietary Guidelines recommend introducing potentially allergenic foods (e.g., peanuts, egg, cow milk products, tree nuts, wheat, shellfish, fish, and soy) when other complementary foods are introduced to an infant’s diet. 

The AAP (American Academy of Pediatrics) supports that we should not delay the introduction of allergenic foods once the baby is eating. 

The three top allergy organizations in the US and Canada (AAAAI, ACAAI, CSACI) worked together to form a consensus report (which our Professors David Fleischer and Carina Venter were authors of) with recommendations for the medical community.  Here are key takeaways from the report:

• Feed allergens early: “Peanut and egg should be introduced around 6 months of life, but not before 4 months.”
• Pre-screening not required: “Screening before introduction is not required, but may be preferred by some families.”
• Diet diversity: Upon introducing complementary foods, infants should be fed a diverse diet, as this may help foster food freedom

If your child already has a food allergy, or is at high risk to develop a food allergy (for example with early onset, persistent, and/or moderate-severe eczema or eczema that has been infected with staph or that is in exposed anatomical regions), then especially in these cases, you may want to see an allergist to discuss food allergies before introducing any other major allergens.

If your child has a known or suspected allergy to any food, he or she must avoid that food entirely while you seek an allergist’s advice to make sure that the suspected allergy is true; many people who think they have a food allergy do not, and if your child doesn’t have one, you need to feed it before he or she actually does.

If your child has already developed a food allergy, there is still so much you can do so don’t lose hope.  Studies show that having one food allergy can actually increase the chance of developing others — but the good news is, early introduction of other allergens can help. In fact, feeding additional allergens during the first year of life can reduce the risk of new food allergies by up to 30%! Our Professor Carina Venter studied it!

If your child already has a known allergy, it’s a good idea to check in with an allergist before introducing new foods. But it’s important not to stop! Every new allergen your child safely eats is a powerful step toward protecting them and building a healthy, strong immune system.

Because we have thought through every science-backed detail so that you don’t have to. From carefully choosing the right ingredients (we even tested 6 different kinds of egg to find the best one!) to getting the perfect dose, texture, and flavor. We’ve created an easy monthly box to support your child’s needs. GrowHappy is peace of mind, knowing you are with a dream team of allergy experts.  

We make it easy and safe, so you can focus on what matters most: watching your child grow, thrive, and enjoy a world full of delicious foods — without the fear.

The GrowHappy Difference:

• Co-founded by a team of world-leading allergy experts - our ImmunoNutrition Squad
• Consistent 2g LEAP doses across 5 major allergens
• 5 allergens introduced early during the critical window/ 7 allergens addressed through related protein structures
• REAL FOOD approach — no powders, not ultra-processed
• Each allergen is separated for flexibility and peace of mind
• Helps your child learn to like the taste of allergens

Your child’s journey toward food freedom starts here — with GrowHappy. Subscribe today to the monthly Allergen ImmunoButter™ Variety Box and take the first step to food freedom with confidence!

Each box contains 40 packets — enough to help you feed your baby 5 essential allergens twice a week. This means you’ll be using about 10 packets per week.

If this feels a bit overwhelming, don’t worry! With meals and snacks there are 35 eating occasions in a week and soon enough you will be mixing and matching. The ImmunoButters are great alone but also go well with other foods like yogurt which we love so you can get your milk allergen in as well.

We’ve also made it easier for you with our Diet Diversity Meal Plan - available for download very soon! This simple guide helps you feed your baby the right foods, including the ImmunoButters, while also meeting all the important nutritional recommendations for infants.

While peanut is one of the most common allergens, it’s not the only one you should care about. That’s why the GrowHappy ImmunoNutrition Squad has focused on 5 key allergens to teach the immune system. These allergens are some of the most common for food allergies, and many of them can lead to lifelong allergies, so let’s be proactive Early & Often™! We need to get these down the GI tract to teach the body that it's just nourishing food.

Inside the GrowHappy Allergen ImmunoButter™ Variety Box, You’ll Find:

• Peanut
• Egg
• Cashew
• Walnut
• Sesame

What About Milk?

Milk is important too, and we encourage you to feed your baby milk proteins! A simple way to do this is by offering plain, unsweetened yogurt, which is full of gut-friendly microbes. You can mix it with our Allergen ImmunoButters™ to add some flavor without the sugar.

We intentionally left milk out of our ImmunoButter range so that your baby can enjoy fresh, probiotic-rich yogurt to support their immune system. Aim for a couple of servings each week to make sure they get the full benefits!

Learn about more allergens

Everything we do at GrowHappy is intentional, including how we chose to serve these allergens as nut and seed butters. One big reason we love this format is that it is flexible across ages and ways to enjoy. Here are some quick tips of how to enjoy: 

How to open: 

• Knead the Allergen ImmunoButter
• Use the easy tear cut at the top to tear open the top of the packet
• Either squeeze out the butter and/or use a small spoon to scrape it all out 

Ways to enjoy as part of a snack or meal: 

• Stir in a bit of breastmilk, water or formula and serve
• Mix it with plain, unsweetened yogurt – we love this to sweeten up otherwise sour yogurt without sugar. Yogurt is one of the best ways to get in the milk allergen, which is a top allergen too and we encourage you to feed it too twice weekly
• Mix it with baby or normal oatmeal – feel free to add some mashed fruit like pear
• Mix it just with mashed fruit and veggies like pear or swede
• Spread on wheat bread to get your wheat allergen in
• Throw it into a blender with frozen fruits, veggies and milk for a smoothie

ImmunoNutrition is a science-backed way to help your child build a strong immune system and a healthy gut — starting from the very beginning.

Simply put:

• Immuno = a strong, smart immune system
• Nutrition = a healthy, balanced gut

It’s all about using simple, diverse range of foods  — with the right nutrients — in the right amounts, introduced Early and Often. This helps your child’s immune system learn to accept foods (like walnuts and sesame) instead of reacting to them, while also building a healthy gut microbiome.

Yes, you do need to wash the spoon before use. It is dishwasher safe but we recommend hand washing anyway.

Yes, the spoon is dishwasher safe but we recommend hand washing anyway.

Don’t Be Too Hard on Yourself! We know life can get busy, especially with travel or when your little one isn’t feeling well. If you happen to miss a day or even a week, don’t worry! Just get back on track as soon as you can. The important thing is to make the most of this time when your child’s immune system is developing.

Every little bit helps — and you’re doing great.

We are working on this, so hopefully soon. It helps us to know which flavor you want first. Please write our founder Stephanie to let her know which flavors you want and how many a month so she can plan for the future. We are here to support you so we want to know what you want! 

Contact Stephanie by emailing Stephaniew@letsgrowhappy.com

If you’d like to try our products, we’d be happy to send you samples! Just reach out to the founder, Stephanie, at Stephaniew@letsgrowhappy.com Be sure to include:

• Your name
• Which flavors you’re most interested in
• How many samples you’d like
• Your address

We can’t wait to hear from you!

At GrowHappy, we’re all about supporting your baby’s growth and development. That’s why we avoid pouches — they don’t let babies practice essential skills like chewing and self-regulating their food intake. Instead, we’ve created Allergen ImmunoButters™ in packets to serve in various yummy ways to help babies learn to enjoy food actively and develop a healthy relationship with eating, all while providing the allergens they need to strengthen their immune system.

Pouches with spouts may seem convenient, but they’re not always the best for your baby’s development. Here’s why:

1. Less Control Over Eating: With a pouch, your baby can squeeze the food out too quickly, making it harder for them to learn how to control their eating speed or develop good oral skills. Eating from a spoon or plate helps babies practice active eating and encourages better habits.
2. Lack of Chewing: Babies need to practice chewing to build mouth and jaw muscles. Pouches encourage swallowing without chewing, which can affect their ability to handle more solid foods later. Plus, did you know that baby foods in pouches are often more acidic to allow for pasteurization? Babies need to chew foods to mix them with saliva and make them more alkaline or neutral — something our Dr. Carina Venter, part of our ImmunoNutrition Squad, researched in-depth.
3. Too Easy to Overeat: Because babies can suck food out of a pouch so easily, they may end up overeating. With a spoon or plate, you have more control over portion sizes and can help your baby eat mindfully.