First foods database
🍖 Salami for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat salami? It is best avoided for babies and kept as an occasional, small taste for older children. Salami is cured, very salty and not cooked, and it is chewy and hard for little ones to break down.
Good source of: Protein, Fat
How to serve salami by age
6 to 9 months
Not yet. Salami is very high in salt and is a cured raw meat. Offer fresh cooked meats instead, such as shredded chicken or lamb.
9 to 12 months
Still best avoided because of salt. Use fresh mince or cooked meat strips.
12 months and up
An occasional very thin, finely chopped slice on pizza (where it is cooked) is fine for toddlers. Keep it small and infrequent.
Choking safety
Salami is chewy and slippery and thin slices can stick together. For toddlers, chop finely. Thick slices and sticks are a choking hazard.
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
- Very high in salt.
- Cured meats are not cooked: cooking on pizza until steaming is safer for young children.
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat salami?
Can babies eat salami? It is best avoided for babies and kept as an occasional, small taste for older children. Salami is cured, very salty and not cooked, and it is chewy and hard for little ones to break down.
Can toddlers eat salami?
Small occasional amounts, finely chopped and ideally cooked, are fine. It is too salty for regular meals.
Is salami safe for babies?
It is best avoided under 12 months because of the high salt content and because it is a cured, uncooked meat.
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).