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Introducing allergens to your baby The 14 major allergens, one calm guide each: when to start, how to offer the first taste, what a reaction looks like and how to keep it in the diet once it is going well.
🥛 Milk You can introduce dairy from around 6 months, starting with a small amount of full-fat pasteurised yoghurt or cheese, or cows' milk used in cooking. Cows' milk can become your baby's main drink from 12 months. 🥚 Egg Egg can be introduced from around 6 months, starting with a small amount of well-cooked egg offered earlier in the day. Hen's eggs with the British Lion stamp can also be served soft or runny. 🥜 Peanut Peanut can be introduced from around 6 months using a small amount of smooth peanut butter thinned with water, breast milk or formula. Never give whole or chopped peanuts to children under 5. 🌰 Tree nuts Tree nuts such as almond, cashew and walnut can be introduced from around 6 months, one nut at a time, as smooth nut butter or finely ground nuts. Never give whole or chopped nuts to children under 5. 🥯 Sesame Sesame can be introduced from around 6 months, starting with a small amount of tahini or hummus mixed into a familiar food. Once it suits your baby, keep offering it regularly. 🐟 Fish Fish can be introduced from around 6 months, starting with a small amount of well-cooked, boneless fish such as salmon or cod. Avoid shark, swordfish and marlin for babies and children. 🦐 Crustaceans Crustaceans like prawns, crab and lobster can be introduced from around 6 months, as long as they are thoroughly cooked and offered in a small amount first. Never give raw or lightly cooked shellfish to babies. 🦑 Molluscs Molluscs such as mussels, clams, squid and scallops can be introduced from around 6 months, thoroughly cooked and finely chopped. Start with a small amount and never offer them raw. 🌾 Gluten Gluten-containing foods such as wheat, barley and rye can be introduced from around 6 months, starting with a small amount of something simple like toast or pasta. Keep them in the diet regularly once they suit your baby. 🫛 Soya Soya can be introduced from around 6 months, starting with a small amount of tofu, unsweetened soya yoghurt or mashed edamame. Once it suits your baby, keep offering it as part of a varied diet. 🌭 Mustard Mustard can be introduced from around 6 months by stirring a tiny amount of mild mustard into a familiar dish, such as a cheese sauce. Mustard can be salty and strong, so a little goes a long way. 🥬 Celery Celery and celeriac can be introduced from around 6 months, cooked until soft and offered in a small amount first. Raw celery sticks are stringy and hard, so avoid them for young babies. 🫘 Lupin Lupin is a legume used in some flours, breads and gluten-free products, and it can be offered from around 6 months like other new foods. If your baby has a peanut allergy, speak to your GP before trying lupin. 🍇 Sulphites Sulphites are preservatives found in some dried fruit, sausages and drinks, and there is no need to introduce them on purpose. Reactions are uncommon in babies and are more likely in children with asthma. Allergens with OBubba
OBubba paces new allergens one at a time. Log a food and OBubba recognises the allergens in it, reminds you to keep tolerated allergens in the diet, and keeps a clear record to share with your doctor. Free to download.
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).