Introducing Stage 3 of our safe and easy, all organic, early allergen introduction system: peanuts, eggs and milk are now joined by another top 6 allergenic foods.
Learn how our new Stage 3 system can help families like yours give their children a head start on the path to food freedom with the early introduction of peanuts, eggs, milk, wheat, soy, sesame, almond, cashew, and walnut in a system that is developed by allergists, recommended by pediatricians, approved by moms, and loved by children all over.
We are excited to launch our new Stage 3 system! This gentle, guided system will help families like yours introduce the 9 top childhood allergy-causing foods safely and easily, and will give your child an even stronger head start on the path to food freedom.
How do Stage 1, Stage 2, and Stage 3 compare?
The new USDA Dietary Guidelines joins other guidelines from leading health organizations to recommend early allergen introduction for every child. Our gentle and gradual approach to early allergen introduction was developed by an allergist-mom to ensure we introduce allergens safely and easily for your child. Here’s how our science-backed system works:
Stage 1: Gradually introduce the top 3 allergens, peanut, egg and milk, one at a time. Easily mixes in a bottle or food to make it simple to start at 4 months of age.
Stage 2: Continue feeding the top 3 allergens from pre-measured sachets. Easily mixes in a bottle or food to make it simple to continue.
Stage 3: Once your child is regularly eating solids, Stage 3 continues the journey. It maintains the introduction of peanuts, eggs and milk and then adds 6 new allergens into the routine for a total of 9 allergens in your child’s diet. Stage 3 will introduce wheat, soy, sesame, almond, cashew, and walnut safely and easily into your child’s food in dosages that are gentle for your child.
Like our existing Stage 1 and Stage 2 systems, Stage 3 is an all-natural, organic powder that comes in pre-measured daily packets, so it’s easy for parents and caregivers to add to your child’s food.
Like our existing Stage 1 and Stage 2 systems, Stage 3 is an all-natural, organic powder that comes in pre-measured daily packets.
Stage 3 continues to introduce your child to peanut, egg, and milk, just like our Stage 1 and Stage 2 systems. But Stage 3 also introduces your child to six new foods and provides a total of 3g of protein into your child’s diet daily. Stage 3 is in line with the new USDA dietary guidelines recommendations for children under the age of two -– “potentially allergenic foods (e.g., peanuts, egg, cow milk products, tree nuts, wheat... and soy) should be introduced" in an infant's diet early and often.
“Potentially allergenic foods (e.g., peanuts, egg, cow milk products, tree nuts, wheat... and soy) should be introduced" - USDA Dietary Guidelines
9 of the top allergens in stage 3 are:
- Peanut
- Egg
- Milk
- Wheat
- Soy
- Sesame
- Almond (tree nut)
- Cashew (tree nut)
- Walnut (tree nut)
And following the USDA's 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for children under 2 years of age, Stage 3 introduces these foods. And again, our stage 1, 2, and 3 are organic, all natural with no added sugar.
How did we choose the 9 allergens for Stage 3?
The 9 allergens in our Stage 3 system are the 9 top allergy-causing foods for young children.
Peanut, egg, milk, and tree nut allergies are the four most common childhood food allergies, especially among younger children. And of the tree nuts, almond, cashew and walnut allergies tend to be the most common childhood food allergies to specific types of tree nuts. Wheat, soy and sesame allergies round out the top childhood food allergies.
As the USDA recommends in their new Dietary Guidelines, "potentially allergenic foods (e.g., peanuts, egg, cow milk products, tree nuts, wheat... and soy) should be introduced" in an infant's diet.
Introducing your child to common allergy-causing foods early and often is key to giving your child the gift of food freedom.
Why didn't you include finned fish or shrimp in Stage 3?
Finned fish allergy and shellfish allergy are largely adult allergies. These allergies are much more common in adults than in babies and young children.
Around 40% of people with a finned fish allergy have their first allergic reaction to fish as adults, and around 60% of people with a shellfish allergy have their first allergic reaction to shellfish in adulthood. The AAAAI also supports this thinking – according to one of their studies, severe reaction from shrimp allergies is much rarer in children than in adults.
In addition, according to one study reported by the AAAAI, a severe reaction from shrimp allergies is much rarer in children than in adults. There is not enough data to support early, consistent allergen introduction of finned fish and shellfish under the age of one.
Also, we wanted Stage 3 to taste great for your child, with no added sugar.
Adding shellfish (like shrimp) and finned fish didn’t maintain the taste that children enjoyed and in keeping with our high quality standards - all of our products (including our Stage 3 system) are 100% organic with no additives or added sugar.
All of our products (including our Stage 3 system) are 100% organic with no additives or added sugar.
Your child’s lifelong eating habits are shaped by the foods they're introduced to early on, and if your child consumes too much added sugar early on, there's a risk that they'll develop a strong preference for overly sweetened foods. This is why the USDA recommends to "avoid added sugars" for infants and toddlers.
"Avoid added sugars" - USDA Dietary Guidelines
How to use Stage 3 with my child?
Just like our easy-to-use Stage 1 and, using Stage 3 of Ready. Set. Food! is equally simple to use and it will fit with your child’s feeding routine.
- Add one pre-measured daily packet of Stage 3 into your child’s favorite solid foods.
- Mix thoroughly.
- And offer your child the best head-start to food freedom!
Continue feeding Stage 3 to your child daily until your child is eating these allergenic foods regularly as part of their normal diet.
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All health-related content on this website is for informational purposes only and does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your own pediatrician in connection with any questions regarding your baby’s health.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. If your infant has severe eczema, check with your infant’s healthcare provider before feeding foods containing ground peanuts.