First foods database
🥚 Quail egg for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat quail eggs? Yes, from about 6 months, cooked until the white and yolk are both solid. Quail eggs are an egg allergen just like hens' eggs, and while they bring protein, vitamin B12 and some iron, their small round shape makes them a choking hazard unless they are cut up.
Good source of: Protein, Iron, Vitamin B12, Choline
How to serve quail egg by age
6 to 9 months
Hard boil quail eggs for about 4 minutes, cool and peel, then mash with a little butter, yoghurt or avocado to spread on toast fingers. You can also beat 2 to 3 quail eggs into a small omelette and cut it into strips. Never offer a whole boiled quail egg.
9 to 12 months
Cut hard-boiled quail eggs lengthways into quarters and offer them as finger food, or chop finely into rice, pasta or vegetables. Mini quail egg muffins with spinach are easy to hold.
12 months and up
Keep cutting quail eggs into quarters lengthways for toddlers. Toddlers enjoy them in lunchboxes, with rice dishes or alongside bread and cheese.
Choking safety
A whole boiled quail egg is about the size of a large grape and can block a small airway. Always cut it lengthways into quarters or mash it until at least 5 years old.
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
- Egg is a common allergen. If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, speak to your GP before introducing eggs.
- Quail eggs are not British Lion stamped, so always cook them until solid.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains egg, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce egg
Easy ideas
- Mashed quail egg and avocado on toast fingers
- Quail egg and spinach mini muffins
- Quartered quail eggs with rice and peas
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat quail egg?
Can babies eat quail eggs? Yes, from about 6 months, cooked until the white and yolk are both solid. Quail eggs are an egg allergen just like hens' eggs, and while they bring protein, vitamin B12 and some iron, their small round shape makes them a choking hazard unless they are cut up.
Can babies eat runny quail eggs?
No. Only British Lion stamped hens' eggs (or the FSA equivalent) are recommended runny for babies. Cook quail eggs until the white and yolk are firm.
Are quail eggs more allergenic than hens' eggs?
They contain similar proteins, so a child allergic to hens' eggs is usually allergic to quail eggs too. Introduce egg first with hens' eggs if you can.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- Food Standards Agency: Eggs advice
- NHS: Food allergies in 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).