First foods database
🫒 Avocado oil for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies have avocado oil? Yes, from about 6 months. Avocado oil is a mild, unsaturated cooking oil that adds healthy fats and energy to baby's food, much like olive or rapeseed oil.
Good source of: Healthy fats, Vitamin E
How to serve avocado oil by age
6 to 9 months
Stir half a teaspoon of avocado oil into vegetable purées, mashed potato or lentils to add energy. Use it to roast vegetable fingers like sweet potato or courgette until soft.
9 to 12 months
Use avocado oil to cook omelettes, roast vegetables and pan-fry fritters, or drizzle a little over pasta and grains.
12 months and up
Use as a family cooking oil for roasting, frying and dressings. It has a high smoke point, so it handles high-heat cooking well.
Choking safety
Oil is not a choking risk. It can actually help dry foods like mashed potato or flaked fish slide down more easily. Just make sure roasted vegetables are soft inside and do not have crispy, hard edges for young babies.
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
- Add oil in small amounts; a little goes a long way for energy.
- Avocado is not a common allergen, but stop if you notice any reaction.
Easy ideas
- Roast vegetables in avocado oil
- Avocado oil in mash
- Avocado oil omelette
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat avocado oil?
Can babies have avocado oil? Yes, from about 6 months. Avocado oil is a mild, unsaturated cooking oil that adds healthy fats and energy to baby's food, much like olive or rapeseed oil.
Is avocado oil better than olive oil for babies?
Both are healthy unsaturated oils and fine for babies. Olive and rapeseed oil are cheaper, while avocado oil has a milder taste and handles high heat well.
Can I add oil to my baby's food?
Yes. Babies need plenty of fat for growth, so a small drizzle of a healthy oil in purées and mashes is a good idea.
Sources
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).