First foods database
🦐 Prawns for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat prawns? Yes, from about 6 months, when thoroughly cooked. Prawns are a crustacean allergen, so introduce them on their own in a small amount.
Good source of: Protein, Iodine, Selenium, Vitamin B12
How to serve prawns by age
6 to 9 months
Cook raw prawns until pink and opaque all the way through, or use cooked prawns reheated until steaming hot. Chop very finely or blend into sauces, rice or mashed potato.
9 to 12 months
Offer finely chopped prawns in pasta, rice, risotto or omelette strips.
12 months and up
Serve chopped small in stir-fries, paella-style rice and pasta. Remove tails and shells.
Choking safety
Whole prawns are firm, rubbery and a choking risk, so chop them finely for babies and toddlers. Remove all shell, tails and the dark vein, and check for shell fragments. Always stay with your baby while they eat, and offer food with them sitting upright.
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
- Never give raw or undercooked shellfish.
- Crustaceans are an allergen; introduce on their own.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains crustaceans, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce crustaceans
Easy ideas
- Prawn and pea risotto
- Prawn and egg fried rice
- Prawn pasta in tomato sauce
Goes well with
Recipes with prawns
Weaning with OBubba
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat prawns?
Can babies eat prawns? Yes, from about 6 months, when thoroughly cooked. Prawns are a crustacean allergen, so introduce them on their own in a small amount.
Can babies eat prawns?
Yes, thoroughly cooked and finely chopped, from about 6 months. Offer a small amount the first time, as crustaceans are an allergen, and keep offering if there is no reaction.
Are cooked frozen prawns okay for babies?
Yes, but defrost them in the fridge and reheat until steaming hot throughout, then chop finely. Never serve them cold from the packet to babies.
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).