Allergen note
Allergic reactions to dill are rare. It is related to celery, carrot and fennel, so children with a celery allergy may occasionally react to it as well. When you first add it from 12 months, use a small amount in a familiar dish and watch for a rash or swelling.
How to serve
From 12 months, sprinkle finely chopped fresh dill over mashed potatoes, scrambled eggs, flaked cooked fish or yogurt dips, or stir it into soups, rice and soft-cooked carrots. About a teaspoon of chopped dill is enough to flavor a toddler portion.
Preparation
Rinse dill under running water and pat it dry. Strip the feathery fronds from the thick stems, discard the stems and chop the fronds finely. Stir dill in at the end of cooking or into cold dishes such as yogurt dips, and keep added salt low.
Texture and choking risk
Long, feathery dill fronds can cling to the tongue or the back of the throat and make toddlers gag or cough. Chop the fronds finely and mix them into moist foods instead of serving whole sprigs, and keep your child seated and supervised while eating.
Sources: cdc.gov · cdc.gov · healthychildren.org · healthychildren.org · nhs.uk · nhs.uk
Starting ages are typical guidance for healthy, full-term babies who show signs of readiness. Your paediatrician may advise differently, especially where there is a family history of allergy.
Track first tastes and reactions
Log when your child first tries dill, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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