How to Know When a Baby Can Have Fish

Fish, while widely accepted as a baby food in Scandinavian countries, is more cautiously approached for a baby's diet in the United States. While the chances of food allergy are low, fish is one of the top food allergens. There are also several types of fish to be careful about feeding baby, with their high methylmercury content, which can be harmful to young children. Read on to learn how to know when a baby can have fish.

Instructions

    • 1

      Wait until the child's first birthday for him to eat fish. Waiting until the child is over a year old ensures that the digestive system is able to handle fish, and the chance of a severe allergic reaction lessens.

    • 2

      Note any family history of allergies. Fish is in the list of top allergens by the American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology. Any hay fever, asthma or allergies to food in your family signals a need to wait. In the case of family allergies, many experts believe holding off until the baby is three is the way to go.

    • 3

      Watch for signs of food allergy. A rash on the face, swelling of the lips, face or tongue, wheezing, vomiting and diarrhea are all signs of a food allergy. Call the pediatrician immediately if any of these signs are present. Also, only introduce one type of fish at a time to watch for signs of food allergy.

    • 4

      Make sure the fish is suitable for little mouths to eat. Debone the fish, and either mince or puree it.

    • 5

      Start out with fish sticks. Fish sticks prepared commercially are battered and made for young children. They are usually better tolerated than regularly prepared fish at first, and are a great way to introduce fish into the child's diet.

    • 6

      Be wary of the type of fish given to the baby to eat. Tuna, as well as predatory fish like shark and swordfish have methylmercury in high levels.

    • 7

      Avoid feeding the baby raw or undercooked fish. Even fish that is tolerated by adults could be fatal to a child's underdeveloped digestive system. This fish can have high levels of bacteria or viruses that are harmful to young children.

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