Children can become sensitised to peanut in a variety of ways:

• Via breast milk. In nursing mothers who consume peanuts regularly, small amounts of peanut protein can be found in the breast milk. This is probably the most common means of sensitisation.
• Through intimate contact with a person who often eats peanuts or peanut butter. In several peanut allergic infants, parents have reported that the first evidence of the allergy was a wheal on the baby’s cheek after being kissed by someone who had recently consumed peanut butter.
• From skin massage with oils containing peanut protein.
  Children with an allergy tendency often have dry skin and so they are more likely to have these oils applied generously and often.