First foods database

🌰 Nutmeg for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies have nutmeg? Yes, from about 6 months, in tiny amounts. Despite its name, nutmeg is a seed spice, not a nut, and a little grated nutmeg adds warmth to vegetables, porridge and white sauces.

From 6 monthsLow choking risk when prepared well

Good source of: Flavour, Manganese

How to serve nutmeg by age

6 to 9 months

Add a tiny pinch of freshly grated nutmeg to butternut squash, sweet potato or spinach purées, or to porridge. Nutmeg works well in sweet dishes like apple purée too.

9 to 12 months

Use a pinch in cheese sauces for pasta and cauliflower cheese, or in rice pudding and baking. Freshly grated nutmeg has the best flavour.

12 months and up

Use nutmeg in family dishes in normal small cooking amounts.

Choking safety

Ground or grated nutmeg is not a choking risk. Whole nutmegs are hard and round, so keep them well out of reach of little hands.

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

Easy ideas

Goes well with

🎃Butternut squashFrom 6 months🥦CauliflowerFrom 6 months🥣OatsFrom 6 months · Gluten🥬SpinachFrom 6 months

Recipes with nutmeg

🍆Baby aubergine and lentil moussakaFrom 9 months · Dinner · 85 min🥦Broccoli, cheddar and white bean pasta bakeFrom 9 months · Dinner · 45 min🌽Caribbean cornmeal porridgeFrom 6 months · Breakfast · 20 min🧀Chicken and broccoli pasta bakeFrom 9 months · Dinner · 45 min🎃Pumpkin spice baked oatmealFrom 9 months · Breakfast · 40 min🍌Ripe plantain pancakesFrom 7 months · Breakfast · 15 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat nutmeg?

Can babies have nutmeg? Yes, from about 6 months, in tiny amounts. Despite its name, nutmeg is a seed spice, not a nut, and a little grated nutmeg adds warmth to vegetables, porridge and white sauces.

Is nutmeg a nut?

No. Nutmeg is the seed of a tropical tree and is not a tree nut allergen. Most people with tree nut allergies can eat it.

How much nutmeg can a baby have?

Just a tiny pinch. Large amounts of nutmeg can be harmful, but the amounts used in cooking are fine.

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).