Weaning Guidelines for Fish

What are the guidelines for weaning baby on fish?

Safe Fish – Guidelines for weaning

The safe limit for children is no more than two portions of fresh, oily fish such as salmon, trout, haddock or mackerel per week.
Don’t give any fish or shellfish to babies younger than six months. There is a small chance they might have an allergic reaction.
Avoid giving fish canned in brine to babies as it is higher in salt than fish canned in oil.
Avoid shark, swordfish or marlin. The mercury in these fish can affect the development of children’s growing nervous systems.
Look for fish that are small in size and low in fat. They tend to have fewer contaminants.
Ask your supermarket or fishmonger where the fish came from and if it is farmed or wild. Farmed fish tends to contain more PCB’s (polychlorinated biphenyls), so select farmed fish with caution and opt for wild fish where possible.
If your family eats a lot of fish and you are weaning using the baby-led method, try to vary the types of fish as much as possible.
Cook seafood properly. Cooked fish should separate into flakes and be opaque.

Oily fish for babies - The low down

Fish, especially oily fish, should form part of your baby’s diet from eight months. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) recommends children eat at least two portions of fish every week, one of which should be oily. Omega-3 essential fatty acids are found in oily fish. They are called essential because they are the only fats that our bodies actually ‘need’ from food, as other fats can be manufactured in the body. They are important for the development of your baby’s brain and eyes.

For easy to cook salmon recipes for a weaning baby of eight months plus, see Salmon Stovies & Fish Cakes, Salmon Pasta Bake and Salmon and Lemon Couscous.