Shrimp and other shellfish like crab and lobster are considered common food allergens. So parents often wonder when can my one year old start eating shrimp? The answer is sooner than you probably think.
While in the past doctors recommended delaying highly allergenic foods, the latest guidelines say there’s no strong evidence that doing so actually reduces allergy risk. In fact, early introduction may be beneficial. Here’s what parents need to know about serving shrimp and other shellfish to babies and toddlers.
When Can Babies Start Eating Shrimp?
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) now advises parents to introduce highly allergenic foods like shellfish eggs and peanut butter between 4 and 6 months of age, once your baby has tried a few other solids and tolerated them well.
Check with your pediatrician before offering shrimp or other shellfish for the first time. They’ll consider factors like your family history of allergies and whether your baby has had issues with other new foods. If the doctor gives the green light, plan to serve shellfish at home first so you can monitor for potential reactions.
Allergy Risks and Signs of Reaction
Shellfish allergies frequently develop in childhood and less often in adulthood. They tend to persist lifelong. An estimated 2% of children are allergic to shellfish like shrimp, crab and lobster.
Signs of an allergic reaction include:
- Hives, itching, rash
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue
- Runny nose, sneezing
- Vomiting, diarrhea
- Trouble breathing
If your baby shows concerning symptoms after eating shellfish, stop serving it and call the pediatrician. They may recommend allergy testing to confirm.
Safely Preparing Shellfish for Little Ones
Shellfish requires extra care when prepping for babies and toddlers due to choking risks from its chewy texture. Follow these tips:
For Babies 6-9 Months
- Finely chop, mince or shred shellfish
- Mix into purees or mashed foods like avocado, sweet potatoes or hummus
For Babies 9-12 Months
- Continue chopping shellfish into tiny pieces
- Mix into finger foods like whole wheat pasta or shredded chicken
For Toddlers Over 12 Months
- Chop shellfish into pea-sized pieces
- Monitor carefully while eating
- Avoid serving whole shrimp or large chunks
Always check for any leftover hard bits of shell or tail and remove before serving. Supervise while your child is eating.
Delicious Shellfish Recipes for Little Ones
Once your pediatrician gives the okay, here are nutritious ways to add shrimp or other shellfish into your baby’s diet:
- Shrimp and carrot puree – Steam and puree shrimp with cooked carrots and broth
- Crab cakes – Fold shredded crabmeat into mashed chickpeas or white beans along with breadcrumbs and shape into mini patties
- Shrimp pasta – Toss tiny shrimp pieces with whole wheat pasta, olive oil, diced tomatoes and spinach
- Shellfish fried rice – Stir bite-sized shrimp, crab or lobster into leftover rice with veggies like peas, carrots and onions
Benefits of Eating Shellfish
Shellfish offers excellent nutrition for growing babies and toddlers:
- High-quality protein for building muscles
- Iron for healthy blood and brain development
- Zinc for immunity and cell growth
- B vitamins for converting food into energy
The omega-3 fatty acids in shellfish promote brain, eye and nerve development. Shellfish is also low in mercury, which makes it a safer choice than some other seafood.
Setting Your Little One Up for Success
Introducing complex flavors like shellfish early on helps expand your baby’s palate. Just take precautions by starting at home and prep shrimp properly to reduce choking hazards. Check with the pediatrician if you have any concerns about allergies or your child’s readiness. Otherwise, dig in and enjoy watching your baby savor their first bites of shrimp!
How to prepare shellfish for babies
You should start giving your little one shellfish early on, but you’ll need to be extra careful to make sure it’s prepared safely. This is especially true if you’re using a baby-led weaning method that involves giving them soft, chewable finger foods instead of purées. Many types of shellfish, especially shrimp and scallops, can be dangerous for babies and young toddlers because they are firm, chewy, or stringy.
When you cook shellfish, you should always cut it into small pieces (no bigger than a pea) and take off the hard shell or tail. It will be hard for babies younger than 9 months to pick up the pieces, but adding very small shellfish pieces to other foods can help them eat on their own.
Check the shellfish carefully with your fingers after cutting it up and before serving to make sure there aren’t any small pieces of shell or tail stuck to the flesh.
If parents want to know how to serve shellfish to their kids at different ages, read on. But remember that every baby grows and learns at their own pace. Before you start baby-led weaning, talk to your pediatrician. You should also talk to your pediatrician if you have any concerns about your child’s oral-motor skills, chewing skills, swallowing skills, or if you’re not sure if your baby is ready for certain food preparations.
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Sure, shellfish might seem a little highbrow for someone who’s still learning to crawl or cruise. But because shellfish like lobster, crab, and shrimp are often allergens, your pediatrician may tell you to start giving your baby shellfish sooner rather than later.
The texture of shellfish can be tough for new eaters to manage. But even so, there are still plenty of delicious ways to incorporate shellfish onto your cutie’s plate. Here’s how to do it — and when it’s okay to start.
Shellfish – How to Feed Your Baby Safely
Is it safe for a 1 year old to eat shrimp?
This means it’s safe for toddlers and babies as young as 1 year old to try shrimp. It is safe to feed a child shrimp and other shellfish “as early as 4-6 months as long as the consistency is something a child can safely eat and swallow,” according to Dr. Purvi Parikh, allergist and immunologist with Allergy & Asthma Network.
Is shrimp healthy to eat?
Shrimp is very healthy to eat, unless you have an allergy to shellfish. Shrimp is great because it is a low calorie, high protein food that is relatively inexpensive. Shrimp is also very versatile, so there are many recipes out there, meaning that you can eat shrimp multiple times a week each time in a different way. Don’t make shrimp your only protein source, because a healthy diet is also a varied diet.
Can Toddlers eat shrimp?
Shrimp is safe to introduce to toddlers and it’s a good source of protein, provides important nutrients, and is rich in omega-3s. As long as the shrimp is thoroughly cooked, cut into small pieces or pureed, and you keep a lookout for signs of an allergic reaction, feeding your toddler shrimp is a safe and healthy addition to their diet.
When can babies eat shrimp?
When can babies have shrimp? Shrimp, when prepared in an age-appropriate way to reduce choking risk, may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Make sure shrimp is fully cooked to reduce the risk of foodborne illness, to which babies are more susceptible.