Allergen guide
🦐 Introducing Prawns and Crab to Your Baby
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.
When to introduce crustaceans
Prawns, crab and lobster can be offered from around 6 months, once your baby is eating a range of other foods. Shellfish must always be thoroughly cooked for babies and young children, never raw or lightly cooked. Prawns can be firm and rubbery, so chop them very finely or blend them into a dish so they are easy to manage. If your baby has severe eczema or already has a food allergy, speak to your GP or health visitor before you start.
How to start
- Choose well-cooked prawns or crab from a trusted source
- Chop very finely or blend into a soft dish
- Offer a small amount earlier in the day when you are at home
- Keep it as the only new food that day
- If it goes well, offer a little more over the next few days
First ways to offer it
- Finely chopped cooked prawns stirred into a risotto
- Cooked crab meat mixed into mashed potato
- Blended prawn and vegetable patties, cooked through
- Finely chopped prawns in a mild tomato pasta sauce
Keep it going
Once your baby is fine with crustaceans, try to keep them in the diet regularly, for example once or twice a week. A prawn pasta or crab cakes are easy family meals. Regular contact helps your baby stay comfortable with them.
Signs of a mild reaction
- A red, blotchy or raised itchy rash, often around the mouth or on the face
- Mild swelling of the lips, face or around the eyes
- Itchy or red skin
- A runny or blocked nose, sneezing or watery eyes
- Being sick, tummy ache or diarrhoea
If you notice mild signs, stop offering the food and speak to your doctor or health visitor before trying again.
Signs of a severe reaction
- Swelling of the tongue or throat
- Trouble breathing, or noisy, fast or hard breathing
- Wheezing, or a cough that will not stop
- A hoarse voice, or trouble swallowing
- Becoming pale and floppy, or suddenly very sleepy
- Collapse, or not responding to you
Call 999 straight away and say you think your baby is having a severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis). If your baby has been given an adrenaline auto-injector, use it now. Do not wait to see if it settles. If you only see mild signs, stop offering the food and speak to your GP or health visitor before trying it again.
Where crustaceans can hide
- Paella and seafood mixes
- Thai and other Asian curry pastes
- Shrimp paste and fish sauce blends
- Seafood sticks and fish soups
- Some stocks and ready meals
Foods in our database that contain it
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.
Questions parents ask
Are crustaceans and molluscs the same allergen?
No. Crustaceans include prawns and crab, while molluscs include mussels and squid. They are listed separately, though some people react to both.
How should I cook prawns for my baby?
Cook them until they are pink all the way through and piping hot, then chop very finely. Never use raw or cold, ready-to-eat shellfish without heating it through.
My baby reacts to dust mites. Does that matter?
Some proteins in dust mites are similar to those in shellfish. If your baby has a known allergy, check with your GP before introducing shellfish.
Other allergens
Sources
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
- BSACI: Early feeding guidance
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
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).