Q&A:
Can babies eat fish?

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Answered by Loraine Stern M.D.

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"I adore children and being a pediatrician because of all the hugging and laughing that we do," say Loraine Stern, M.D.

Loraine Stern, M.D., clinical professor of pediatrics at U.C.L.A., has been in private pediatric practice for 35 years. Dr. Stern wrote for Woman's Day magazine from 1986 to 2005. She is a former editor of and contributor to Healthy Kids magazine. She has published two books on child care and has edited a book about pediatric nutrition for the American Academy of Pediatrics. A spokesperson for children and families, Dr. Stern has appeared on national networks and programs such as CNN, The Today Show, and Good Morning America.

Dr. Stern has two stepchildren but no animals or even green plants.

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Question

I was told to start introducing meats to my baby when he turned 8 months old. Does this include fish? My 7-year-old son loves fish and always wants to feed some to the baby. I haven't read or heard of babies eating fish. Please help!

Answer

Hooray that your 7-year-old likes something as nutritious and low-fat as fish. It is also a loving gesture that he wants to share this food with the baby. There is a danger, however, that an older child might feed a younger sibling something he could choke on. Make it clear to your older son that anything he wishes to give to the baby should be approved by an adult before he offers it.

If your family has a history of allergies hay fever, asthma, eczema, or food allergies, for example it's a good idea to wait until your baby is at least 2 before introducing fish or shellfish. Shellfish, in particular, are apt to provoke allergies, so I'd avoid them completely until after your child's second birthday. However, if allergies don't run in your family, other fish shouldn't be a high-risk food. In addition, the texture and softness of fish make it easy for small children to eat. We do not feed infants fish because it is not a mainstay of our diets, but I'll bet infants in other parts of the world eat fish long before North American children do.

Some fish pose a contamination hazard. Some freshwater fish, for example, can contain high levels of pollutants such as mercury. Children are particularly susceptible to the toxic effects of these poisons. Check with local or state government agencies if you eat fish caught for sport in local waters. Tuna processed for canning is safer than large tuna caught by sport fishers, for example.

Also, children should not eat sushi or undercooked fish dishes such as ceviche, which is "cooked" with lemon or lime juice. Bacteria and viruses that can be tolerated by healthy adults or have minor effects on them can make children seriously ill.