First foods database
🐟 Whitebait for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat whitebait? Yes, from about 6 months if baked or pan-fried soft and chopped. These tiny young fish are eaten whole, including their soft bones, so they are a good source of calcium and protein. Classic battered, deep-fried whitebait is best saved for occasional treats.
Good source of: Calcium, Protein, Vitamin D
How to serve whitebait by age
6 to 9 months
Bake or gently pan-fry whitebait in a little oil until cooked through, then chop finely and mix with mashed potato, peas or yoghurt. For finger food, bind chopped whitebait with egg and breadcrumb into soft fishcakes baby can hold.
9 to 12 months
Offer a few soft baked whitebait with a yoghurt dip, or chop them into pasta with tomato sauce.
12 months and up
Serve baked whitebait with lemon and a dip as part of a family meal, cut up if needed.
Choking safety
Whitebait bones are tiny and soft once cooked, so they are eaten whole. Very crispy, hard fried fish can be sharp and difficult to chew, so keep them soft for babies and toddlers.
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
- Fish is a common allergen: introduce on its own and keep offering.
- Battered, deep-fried whitebait is often salted: save it for occasional treats.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains fish, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce fish
Easy ideas
- Baked whitebait with lemon
- Whitebait in fishcakes
- Whitebait and potato mash
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat whitebait?
Can babies eat whitebait? Yes, from about 6 months if baked or pan-fried soft and chopped. These tiny young fish are eaten whole, including their soft bones, so they are a good source of calcium and protein. Classic battered, deep-fried whitebait is best saved for occasional treats.
Can babies eat the bones in whitebait?
Yes. Whitebait are tiny, and their bones soften on cooking, which is why they are eaten whole.
Is whitebait good for babies?
Baked or lightly pan-fried whitebait offers protein and calcium. Deep-fried, battered versions are greasy and often salted.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- NHS: Fish and shellfish
- 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).