First foods database
🌭 Chorizo for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat chorizo? Chorizo is a salty, spicy cured sausage, so it is best kept off the menu under 12 months and offered only in small amounts as an occasional flavour after that.
Good source of: Protein, Fat, Vitamin B12
How to serve chorizo by age
6 to 9 months
Not yet. Chorizo is too salty and often spicy for babies under 12 months. Unprocessed meats like chicken, beef or lamb are better choices at this age.
9 to 12 months
Still best avoided. Mild unprocessed meats are a better choice. If the family meal includes chorizo, pick out a portion for baby before adding it.
12 months and up
A little chopped chorizo cooked into a family dish now and then is fine. Choose mild varieties. Use chorizo as a flavouring in stews rather than the main protein.
Choking safety
Chorizo slices are firm and round, so chop them into small pieces and avoid whole rounds. Firm cured sausage can be chewy, so 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
- High in salt and often spicy: avoid under 12 months.
- Processed meat; keep it occasional.
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat chorizo?
Can babies eat chorizo? Chorizo is a salty, spicy cured sausage, so it is best kept off the menu under 12 months and offered only in small amounts as an occasional flavour after that.
Can toddlers eat chorizo?
Small amounts occasionally are fine, chopped small. Keep them small and occasional, as chorizo is high in salt.
Is chorizo spicy?
Some are. Choose mild for toddlers. Look for mild chorizo without much paprika heat.
Sources
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- NHS: What to feed young children
- NHS: How to stop a child from choking
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).