Serve up some tilapia with that first birthday cake!
Many parents are eager to start giving fish to young children, but when is it safe? According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology, fish is one of the most common food allergens. But most experts agree that you can safely introduce fish into your child’s diet after his or her first birthday.
Why Wait Until After Baby’s First Birthday?
After the first year of life, the immune and digestive systems are more developed than before that milestone. If you have allergies such as hay fever, asthma, or food allergies in your family medical history, experts recommend holding off on introducing fish until after age three. Just in case.
Signs of food allergy include the following:
- swelling of the tongue, lips, and face
- skin rash
- wheezing
- abdominal cramping
- vomiting
- diarrhea
If your child shows any symptoms after eating fish (or any other food), consult the doctor immediately.
Even though food allergies can be serious, only 4 to 6 percent of babies and young children will develop one. In many countries where fish makes up a larger portion of the average diet, babies eat may fish earlier than other proteins. However, in the United States, we usually don’t give fish until after a baby is already eating pureed fruits and vegetables, along with strained meats and poultry.
First Fish: How to Present It
Here are a few tips to ensure your child’s first fish experiences are good ones:
- make sure the fish is properly deboned and minced or pureed
- offer small amounts at first
- introduce only one type of fish at a time
The American Academy of Pediatrics also warns against feeding children raw or undercooked fish. That means no ceviche or sushi.
The Worry Over Mercury
Some fish contain high levels of methylmercury, a metal that may be harmful (in high doses) to a child’s developing brain and nervous system. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends avoiding large predatory fish. These include:
- shark
- swordfish
- king mackerel
- tilefish
- tuna
For more specific guidelines as to portion size and frequency, check out the Healthy Fish Guide, provided by the Washington State Department of Health
Further Reading:
American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology Background Article on Food Allergies
American Academy of Pediatrics Advice on Starting Solid Foods
Tags: babies eating fish, children eating fish, cooking for kids, feed fish to baby
