First foods database
🐟 Monkfish for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat monkfish? Yes, from about 6 months. Monkfish is a firm, mild white fish with no small bones.
Good source of: Protein, Selenium, Vitamin B12
How to serve monkfish by age
6 to 9 months
Cook monkfish until opaque and tender, then mash with potato or vegetables. Soft strips are good finger food. Mash flaked monkfish with a little olive oil or baby's usual milk so it is moist and easy to swallow.
9 to 12 months
Offer soft pieces of monkfish in pasta or with rice. Mild coconut fish curries and tomato fish stews are lovely ways to serve it at this age.
12 months and up
Serve monkfish in curries, stews or baked with vegetables. Monkfish holds together well in kebabs and traybakes, which toddlers enjoy picking up.
Choking safety
Monkfish is firmer than cod, so cook until tender and cut into strips. Check the central bone and any membrane have been removed, and cut pieces so they are easy to hold rather than small firm cubes.
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.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains fish, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce fish
Easy ideas
- Monkfish curry (mild)
- Monkfish and potato mash
- Monkfish with tomato sauce
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat monkfish?
Can babies eat monkfish? Yes, from about 6 months. Monkfish is a firm, mild white fish with no small bones.
Does monkfish have bones?
It has a central bone but no small pin bones. Lift the fillet off the bone and you will have boneless, meaty pieces.
Is monkfish safe for babies?
Yes, it is not one of the high-mercury fish. Aim for a mix of white and oily fish across the week.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- NHS: Fish and shellfish
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- 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).