First foods database
🌊 Seaweed for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat seaweed? Yes, in small amounts from about 6 months. Seaweed is very high in iodine, so a little sprinkled or chopped into food is plenty, and some types are best avoided.
Good source of: Iodine, Vitamin K, Folate
How to serve seaweed by age
6 to 9 months
Crumble a pinch of plain unsalted nori into rice, eggs or mash. Avoid offering whole sheets.
9 to 12 months
Continue sprinkling or finely shredding into dishes. Small amounts of soft cooked seaweed in soups are fine.
12 months and up
Offer plain nori with rice or in soups occasionally. Seasoned seaweed snacks are salty, so keep them for older children and small amounts.
Choking safety
Dry sheets of nori can stick to the roof of the mouth and cause gagging or choking, so crumble or shred it finely and mix it into moist food. Avoid giving whole sheets or crispy seaweed snacks to young babies.
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 iodine: small amounts only.
- Do not give hijiki seaweed (high in arsenic).
- Seasoned seaweed snacks are salty.
Easy ideas
- Nori crumbled over egg fried rice
- Miso-free seaweed and tofu soup
- Rice balls rolled in nori flakes
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat seaweed?
Can babies eat seaweed? Yes, in small amounts from about 6 months. Seaweed is very high in iodine, so a little sprinkled or chopped into food is plenty, and some types are best avoided.
Can babies eat seaweed snacks?
Most seaweed snacks are salted and oiled. Plain unsalted nori in small amounts is a better choice.
Why only a little seaweed?
Seaweed can contain a lot of iodine, and too much is not good for babies. A sprinkle is enough.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- NHS: What to feed young children
- NHS: How to stop a child from choking
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving 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).