Seafood For Babies – Everything You Need To Know

Seafood is an important source of protein, vitamins B-6 and B-12, vitamin D, and omega-3 fatty acids (1). However, before introducing seafood to your little one, you might want to know about the benefits and side effects of seafood for babies.

Seafood helps promote the proper development of children during their growing years and reduces the risk of contracting illnesses or chronic diseases in adult life (1). Some of the healthy seafood choices for children include tuna, salmon, and trout.

What are the seafood choices you should include and avoid in your baby’s diet, and what are their benefits and side effects? We tell you all you need to know about seafood for babies in this post. Read on.

Benefits Of Seafood For Babies:

You can introduce fish and other seafood in your baby’s diet a month or two after they begin eating solid food. However, you need to follow some guidelines. Before we learn why you need to include seafood in your baby’s diet, let’s look at some of its benefits:

1. Highly Nutritious:

Fatty fish and seafood are highly nutritious. Adults and kids should ideally eat fish twice a week (2). Fish is low in saturated fat, high in vitamin D, protein, and B complex vitamins (3).

2. Omega-3 Fatty Acids:

The high level of omega-3 fatty acids present in seafood promotes your infant’s brain development and boosts his immunity and vision (4). Salmon is the best source of DHA, an essential omega-3 fatty acid (5). Omega-3 fatty acids are polyunsaturated fats that have been shown to improve brain function, attention span, and memory. They can help reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.

3. Clear Skin:

A study published by the Archives of Disease in Childhood concludes that babies who start eating fish in the first year of life are at a lower risk of contracting eczema (6).

How Much Seafood Should My Baby Eat?

For infants between the ages of 9 to 12 months, two to three tablespoons of chopped fish without bones is considered to be safe (7).

Babies And Seafood – Risks:

Even with many amazing benefits, you need to choose the safest option for your baby. Some seafood can contain environmental contaminants like mercury and PCBs that can damage the developing nervous system (8).

Safe Baby Seafood:

The following is a list of some types of fish and seafood that are considered safe for your baby (5):

• Tuna
• Salmon
• Trout
• Herring
• Catfish
• Crab
• Scallops
• Pollock
• Tilapia
• Whitefish
• Trout
• Perch
• Flounder
• Sole
• Sardine
• Anchovy
• Crawfish
• Clams
• Oyster
• Lobster
• Shrimp
• Cod

Source: US Food and Drug Administration

The fish listed above are easy to digest and not highly allergenic.

Off Limits Seafood:

Seafood is good for your baby, but there are some types your baby needs to avoid (5):

• Shark
• Swordfish
• Tilefish
• King mackerel

Tips For Cooking Seafood:

Here are some tips to prepare seafood in the safest way possible.

• Raw or undercooked seafood contains potentially harmful bacteria, which can lead to vomiting, fever, and diarrhea.

• Contaminants tend to collect in the fat and skin on the seafood, so trim those areas before cooking (9).

• Baking, broiling, and grilling will further reduce the contaminants and fat.

• Ensure that you remove the bones from the fish. Some fish contain tiny bones, so be careful when deboning.

• You can poach, bake, steam, or puree the fish as you would with other meats. Fishes are usually tender, so you can just mash them with a fork.

• You can blend seafood with veggies that your baby likes.

Signs Of Allergy:

Seafood can be extremely allergic, so you need to know how to spot it if your little one suffers an allergic reaction. Food allergies typically begin within hours or even minutes of consuming food. Take your baby to the doctor if they contract:

• Facial Swelling
• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Itching
• Irritability
• Rashes or hives
• Difficulty breathing
• Turning blue
• Wheezing
• Choking or gasping for breath

A Word Of Caution:

Here are some important things to keep in mind regarding seafood for babies.

• Start by introducing them to a little seafood and check other possible reactions.
• Introduce just one type of seafood at a time. It will be easier to pinpoint the offender if your child has a reaction.
• Follow the 4-Day Wait rule for baby food.

References

Was this article helpful?

Community Experiences

Join the conversation and become a part of our vibrant community! Share your stories, experiences, and insights to connect with like-minded individuals.