Allergen note
Fish is a common allergen, separate from shellfish. Offer a small amount of mild white fish such as cod, haddock or pollock around 6 months, then keep serving it regularly once tolerated; check with your pediatrician first if your baby has severe eczema or a known allergy.
How to serve
At 6–8 months, mash flaked fish into potato or vegetable purée, or offer large soft flakes and homemade fish cakes to hold. From 9 months, serve small flakes to pick up; toddlers need only about 1 ounce per serving, around twice a week.
Preparation
Bake, steam or poach the fillet without salt until it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork (145°F/63°C). Remove the skin, run your fingers through the flakes to find pin bones, and choose low-mercury fish rather than swordfish, shark or king mackerel.
Texture and choking risk
Soft cooked white fish is easy to mash with the gums; the main hazard is small pin bones. Check every piece carefully, serve moist flakes rather than dry breaded chunks, and always supervise with your baby seated upright.
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 white fish, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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