First foods database
🌰 Pistachios for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat pistachios? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as they are finely ground or made into a smooth butter. Pistachios are a tree nut allergen, so introduce them on their own, and whole or chopped pistachios are not safe for children under 5.
Good source of: Protein, Vitamin B6, Potassium, Fibre
How to serve pistachios by age
6 to 9 months
Grind unsalted, shelled pistachios to a fine powder in a blender. Stir about a quarter of a teaspoon into porridge, plain yoghurt or fruit purée the first time, then increase gradually. Smooth pistachio butter thinned with warm water can be spread thinly on toast fingers.
9 to 12 months
Use ground pistachio to coat slippery fruit such as banana or ripe pear so it is easier to grip, or stir it into pancakes, muffins and porridge.
12 months and up
Keep offering it finely ground or as smooth butter in baking, on yoghurt and in porridge. Whole or chopped pistachios can wait until 5 years.
Choking safety
Whole and chopped nuts are a choking hazard for children under 5, so only offer pistachios finely ground or as a smooth butter. Shells are sharp and hard: remove them and keep shells and bowls of nuts out of reach.
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
- Tree nut allergen: offer a small amount on its own first, then keep it in the diet regularly.
- Choose unsalted pistachios.
- If your baby has severe eczema or a known allergy, speak to your GP before introducing nuts.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains tree nuts, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce tree nuts
Easy ideas
- Ground pistachio stirred into yoghurt with pear
- Pistachio-dusted banana fingers
- Pistachio and cardamom porridge
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat pistachios?
Can babies eat pistachios? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as they are finely ground or made into a smooth butter. Pistachios are a tree nut allergen, so introduce them on their own, and whole or chopped pistachios are not safe for children under 5.
When can babies eat pistachios?
Finely ground or as a smooth butter from about 6 months; whole or chopped pistachios not until 5 years.
Are salted pistachios okay for babies?
Choose unsalted, as salted pistachios add a lot of salt. Shelled unsalted kernels are the easiest to grind.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
- BSACI: Early feeding guidance
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and 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).