🧂 Mustard
Allergen note
Mustard is a common allergen in Europe and Canada, and reactions can be severe. Offer a small amount of a mild mustard on a day with no other new foods, watch for hives, vomiting or swelling, and keep offering it once tolerated. Check labels: many Dijon and whole-grain mustards contain sulfites, some English mustards contain wheat, and honey mustard is not for babies under 12 months.
How to serve
Mustard is salty, so use it as a flavoring, not a food. Start with mild yellow mustard, use sharper Dijon more sparingly, and save hot English mustard, in tiny amounts, for after 12 months. For babies, stir about 1/4 teaspoon into a family pot of mashed potatoes, vegetables or sauce; toddlers can have a thin smear on sandwiches or in dips.
Preparation
Choose a plain mustard with less salt and no honey, and compare labels for sulfites and wheat. Whisk a little into homemade olive-oil dressings, cheese sauce or mashed vegetables, or brush a thin layer onto chicken or fish before baking; cooking softens its sharp bite. If you use mustard powder, mix it with a little cold water first.
Texture and choking risk
Smooth mustard is not a common choking hazard, but a thick blob can be hard for a baby to move around the mouth, and hot English mustard can make a child cough or gag suddenly. Spread any mustard, including seedy whole-grain types, thinly or stir it evenly into food, never offer it by the spoonful, and supervise meals.
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 mustard, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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