First foods database
🍗 Chicken nuggets for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat chicken nuggets? Homemade baked nuggets made from chicken breast or thigh are a great finger food from about 6 months. Shop-bought and fast-food nuggets are often high in salt and fried, so they are best kept as an occasional food for toddlers.
Good source of: Protein, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Zinc
How to serve chicken nuggets by age
6 to 9 months
Make your own: blend or finely chop chicken, mix with a little egg and breadcrumbs or oats, and shape into thick strips about the size of an adult finger. Bake until cooked through with no pink, and cool. Soft strips are easier to grip than small rounds.
9 to 12 months
Serve homemade nuggets in smaller pieces with a dip like natural yoghurt or mashed avocado. Add grated courgette, carrot or sweet potato to the mix for extra veg.
12 months and up
Toddlers can enjoy homemade nuggets with family meals. If you buy nuggets, choose ones with lower salt, check the label and bake rather than fry.
Choking safety
Crispy coatings and chewy, processed chicken can be hard for babies to manage. Keep homemade nuggets soft and moist, avoid over-baking, and cut them into strips or small pieces depending on age.
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
- Breadcrumbs contain wheat (gluten) and many recipes use egg, both common allergens.
- Shop-bought nuggets can be high in salt; babies need less than 1g of salt a day.
- Cook chicken until steaming hot with no pink meat.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains gluten, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce gluten
Easy ideas
- Baked oat-crusted chicken strips with yoghurt dip
- Chicken and sweet potato nuggets
- Chicken and pea nuggets with tomato sauce
Goes well with
Weaning with OBubba
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat chicken nuggets?
Can babies eat chicken nuggets? Homemade baked nuggets made from chicken breast or thigh are a great finger food from about 6 months. Shop-bought and fast-food nuggets are often high in salt and fried, so they are best kept as an occasional food for toddlers.
Are chicken nuggets OK for babies?
Homemade baked ones are. Shop and takeaway nuggets are processed and salty, so keep them for occasional toddler meals.
Can I freeze homemade nuggets?
Yes. Freeze uncooked or cooked, then bake from frozen until piping hot throughout.
What can I use instead of breadcrumbs?
Blitzed oats, ground almonds (if nuts are already introduced) or crushed cornflakes all work.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- NHS: What to feed young children
- NHS: How to stop a child from choking
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
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).