When Can Babies Start Eating Fish? Fish can be an essential part of your baby’s diet because it can provide them high nutrients for firmer muscles. The perfect time to feed them with fish is around 4 to 6 months old where they are allowed to eat solid food. However, if your baby has a food allergy, then better see a pediatrician first before feeding them. Unfortunately, fish is one of the top allergic foods which is why most doctors can recommend you to start feeding your babies some traditional solid foods instead, such as pureed meat, cereal, and fruits.

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According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Allergy and Immunology, most babies have mild eczema that either be inherited from their parents or they simply have sensitive skin. But in time, this mild eczema will eventually heal once your baby has taken enough vitamins and minerals to shield them from unwanted illnesses and disease.

Guidelines In Feeding Your Babies Fish

Babies can eat fish because of its soft texture and fish is a good source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which is responsible for brain and skin enhancement. Even if fish is listed in top allergy foods, still delaying your babies’ diet might also do no good for them. Only with moderation and a perfect time suggested by the pediatrician you can feed your baby.

Research strongly suggests that eating fish as early as 4 months old can prevent allergic diseases, like asthma, allergic rhinitis, sinusitis, and eczema. At the age of 6 months old, babies have a growing ability to learn and explore different flavors and texture of the foods they are taking.

Your pediatrician might give another alternative, that depends solely on your baby’s needs. A lot of conservative pediatrician can suggest waiting for the baby to turn to 1-year old for fish consumption and a possible delay of until 3 years old to try out other kinds of seafood like shellfish, crustaceans, and shrimps, especially if there’s a family history of allergy against these foods.

Best Fish For The Babies

You can give your baby a well-mashed fish from 6 months onwards and they won’t be having problems chewing it, unlike poultry meats. The texture of the fish is mostly soft and tender. When you give them fish, make sure that it’s cooked properly and meticulously, especially when removing bones. The best fish to prepare for them would be mackerel, salmon, and sardines which are filled with Omega-3 fatty acids and low levels of mercury and other harmful chemicals. Tuna, even though rich in protein and Omega-3, is also high in mercury, so you would have to refrain from it.

Whitefish such as cod, haddock, and flounder are all “less” fishy and oily. You can feed your baby at least twice a week, so his body can acquire all the needed nutrients without you having to worry about allergic reactions anymore. Other nutrients from the fish include iron, calcium, zinc, and Vitamin D, which is vital in terms of calcium absorption.

How To Prepare Fish For The Babies

There are many ways in preparing fish for the babies, and that’s through steaming, baking, and pan-searing. Even preparing them with olive oil is fine, but you have to lessen it than usual. Deep frying is not recommended for babies because it may acquire possible toxins that could harm your baby’s internal organs.

When you first introduce the fish to them, make sure that it’s fresh and properly de-boned as babies have no self-control to take them out. It has to be nicely cooked and avoid undercooked and raw fish because there might be negative bacteria that their bodies are not susceptible to. Always make sure that the fish has a lower level of mercury and the fish has to be mild in flavor as babies are just starting to grow and develop their sense of taste.

If you are planning to combine the fish to their baby food, make sure that it is chopped into small pieces and it has to be deboned. You can add water afterward, then puree until you’ve got the right texture for it. You may also try to combine them with fruits and vegetables.

However, no one would recommend you to combine milk and fish because they have a complete body reaction. Just to be safe, avoid this combination so it will prevent your babies from having indigestion or allergic reactions. If they are now ready for table foods and when babies can feed themselves on their own, then just make sure that the fish is properly and neatly cooked and it has to be de-bone. Another safety precaution is just to cut the fish into small pieces.

Ask Advice From Pedia

Your first and last resort should always come from your pediatrician because they are experts in that field. Now, as first-time parents, it would be a challenge for you to learn the best things that you can provide for your child. There may be baffling times where you end up being in contradiction or gaining a lot of confusing information from the internet, which makes your parenting a lot more stressful.

The best people that you can approach if your pediatrician because they know best for your baby and if there will be problems, they can give you the best solution as well. Remember, your babies are not an experiment and they have to be handled well with fragility because in the first place, they are still starting to develop some sense and they are not yet conscious to make decisions for themselves.

Conclusion

It is never too bad to feed your babies fish. In the end, you will understand how much nutritional value it gives to your child. Feeding babies can a great challenge and there may be times where your parental preference are not accustomed to what your babies would love, so make sure that whatever foods your baby is taking, it has to be healthy, scientifically approved and recommended by your pediatrician, just for the reason that your baby’s safety is the first priority above all.