First foods database
🐟 Anchovies for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat anchovies? Fresh anchovies can be cooked for babies from about 6 months, but most anchovies sold in the UK are salted or tinned in salty oil, which makes them too salty for babies. A tiny amount in family cooking is fine for toddlers.
Good source of: Omega-3, Calcium, Protein, Iron
How to serve anchovies by age
6 to 9 months
Salted and tinned anchovies are too salty for babies, so it is best to wait. If you find fresh anchovies, cook well, remove bones and flake.
9 to 12 months
Still best to avoid salted anchovies. Choose fresh oily fish such as salmon or sardines in water instead.
12 months and up
A small amount of rinsed anchovy melted into a pasta sauce or on pizza is fine occasionally. Anchovies count as oily fish.
Choking safety
Tiny bones in fresh anchovies are soft but should be removed for babies. Salted fillets are small and chewy: chop finely.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Salted and tinned anchovies are very high in salt.
- Oily fish: up to 2 portions a week for girls, 4 for boys.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains fish, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce fish
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat anchovies?
Can babies eat anchovies? Fresh anchovies can be cooked for babies from about 6 months, but most anchovies sold in the UK are salted or tinned in salty oil, which makes them too salty for babies. A tiny amount in family cooking is fine for toddlers.
Can toddlers eat anchovies?
Yes, small amounts occasionally. Rinsing salted anchovies helps, but they are still salty.
Do anchovies count as oily fish?
Yes. They are rich in omega-3 fats, but keep within the weekly oily fish limits.
Sources
- NHS: Fish and shellfish
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- BSACI: Early feeding guidance
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).