🫒 Vegetable oil
Allergen note
Highly refined vegetable oils (usually soybean, canola, sunflower or corn) contain almost no protein, so allergic reactions are rare. Cold-pressed or unrefined oils can carry allergen proteins, so check the label if your child has a soy, peanut or sesame allergy.
How to serve
From around 6 months, stir about ½–1 teaspoon into vegetable purées, mashed potatoes or oatmeal to add energy and fat for growth. It works best as part of family cooking; there's no need to give oil on its own.
Preparation
Use it to roast, sauté or bake vegetables, fish and meat, keeping the heat moderate so the oil doesn't smoke; canola oil also provides some omega-3. Skip deep-fried foods, and let cooked food cool before serving.
Texture and choking risk
Oil is not a typical choking hazard when mixed into food, but don't give it by the spoonful on its own. Oil can make food slippery, so coat pieces lightly, keep them easy to grip, and always supervise your seated baby.
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 vegetable oil, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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