First foods database
🐟 Catfish for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat catfish? Yes, from about 6 months. Catfish is a mild, slightly sweet white fish that is low in mercury and turns soft and flaky when cooked, so it is easy for babies to manage.
Good source of: Protein, Vitamin B12, Vitamin D, Selenium
How to serve catfish by age
6 to 9 months
Bake, steam or poach until the flesh flakes easily, remove skin and bones, then mash with sweet potato or rice, or offer soft flakes to pick up.
9 to 12 months
Serve flaked catfish in a gentle tomato stew, with rice and squashed beans, or in soft fishcakes bound with potato.
12 months and up
Offer pieces of baked or lightly pan-fried catfish with family meals. Try it in soft tortillas with avocado. Takeaway deep-fried and heavily seasoned catfish is usually salty, so keep that occasional.
Choking safety
Catfish fillets are usually boneless, but always check by feeling through the flakes. Remove the skin for young babies, as it can be slippery.
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
- Fish is a common allergen: introduce on its own and keep offering.
- Cajun and blackening seasonings are often salty and spicy: season gently at home instead.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains fish, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce fish
Easy ideas
- Catfish with rice and squashed black beans
- Mild catfish and tomato stew
- Catfish and sweet potato mash
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat catfish?
Can babies eat catfish? Yes, from about 6 months. Catfish is a mild, slightly sweet white fish that is low in mercury and turns soft and flaky when cooked, so it is easy for babies to manage.
Is catfish low in mercury?
Yes, catfish is a low-mercury fish and is suitable for babies as part of a varied diet.
Can babies eat fried catfish?
Homemade catfish cooked in a little oil and coated in breadcrumbs or oats is fine. Deep-fried takeaway versions tend to be salty, so save those for occasionally.
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).