How To Cook And Serve Eggs To A Baby
As eggs are a common food allergen you should start with small amounts of well-cooked egg and gradually increase the volume served.
One of the great things about eggs is that they can be served in so many different ways. Dont stick to serving your baby eggs cooked in just one way. Try a variety of different cooking methods so that your baby can get used to various textures and flavours.
You can serve eggs pureed, mashed, or as finger food. Try starting with pureed hard-boiled egg, mixed with avocado or breast milk for a more creamy consistency. Scrambled egg pieces are a fantastic finger food as are mini muffins, omelette strips and egg pancakes. See the recipe section below for ideas.
When Can Babies Have Eggs
Eggs are a common allergen, so they shouldnt be the very first item on your new eaters menu. On the other hand, you dont have to wait too long before introducing them.
Your pediatrician will likely give you the green light to start introducing solids around 6 months. Once your baby has tried and tolerated several less-allergenic foods , your pediatrician will let you know if it’s okay to move on to allergens like eggs.
While experts used to think that introducing allergenic foods later reduced the risk for reactions, the American Academy of Pediatrics now says theres no reason to wait. In fact, some findings show that babies who start eating eggs between 4 and 6 months are less likely to develop an allergy compared to those who dont have eggs until 10 to 12 months.
Still, consult your pediatrician before putting eggs on the menu for the first time. When you first serve them, plan to do so at home . Thatll make it easier to keep an eye on your baby for the first hour or two after eating so you can watch for any potential allergic reactions. Youll also know for sure about all of the ingredients she ate at mealtime, making it easier to pinpoint eggs as the culprit if theres a problem.
When To Give Eggs To Your Baby
It is recommended to introduce well cooked whole egg into your childs diet in the first year of their life – around six months of age, but not before four months.
These guidelines are the same for all babies, even those with a high risk of developing food allergies, such as those with a family history of egg allergy or those with eczema. Studies have shown that introducing eggs within the first year helps children to develop a tolerance to eggs and may reduce the risk of allergy. Delayed introduction of egg and other food allergens has been shown to increase the chance of developing food allergy.
When first introducing eggs make sure they are well cooked, start off with small amounts and offer to your child twice a week.
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Sample Baby Feeding Schedules
Although every baby is different, it can be helpful to have a sample feeding schedule as a guide for how much and how often a typical 6 to 9 month old will eat. Remember that a baby’s flavor preferences and appetite may go through changes that deviate from this schedule.
In addition, you can combine fruits and vegetables in a single meal or deviate from the suggested offerings to meet your baby’s preferences. If you want support in introducing foods, consider working with a dietitian that specializes in feeding infants and toddlers.
How To Introduce Eggs To Your Baby
Around the time youâre introducing eggs to your infant, itâs important to offer soft, easy-to-swallow foods that will break down into small pieces in their mouth to prevent choking. Since infants donât yet have teeth, or have very few teeth, they arenât able to chewâinstead they mash foods with their mouths.
So, how do you cook eggs for your babyâs first time?
When it comes to preparing eggs for your baby, offer eggs that are scrambled, hard-boiled, or poached . And how should you feed your baby eggs? Youâll want to mash the eggs with a fork to make them easier for your baby to eat.
If youâre a follower of baby-led weaning , you could offer these same preparations for eggs cut into small, finger food-style pieces and give them to your baby to self-feed.
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When To Introduce Egg For Baby
Whether youre starting your baby on purees or are doing baby-led weaning, eggs are a delightful first food for your baby! When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat . Before you start your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.
Tip: While its great to serve your baby the entire egg, you could try serving the yolk only for the first couple of feedings, as it is creamier and easier for your baby to eat.
Can You Feed Eggs To Your Baby Every Day
Yes, children can be fed eggs every day. However, the number of eggs you can feed your baby depends on the age and the diet that is followed for the baby. It is advisable that you do not exceed that number per day. You may check with the paediatrician/dietician for the number of eggs you can feed your baby.
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How Do I Store Eggs
Eggs need to be kept in an environment where the temperature is stable, kitchen cupboards arent ideal as they are frequently opened and closed so the temperature fluctuates. This is why the recommendation is to keep eggs in the fridge.
However, as an ex-baker, I know that cold eggs dont always make recipes turn out well. Therefore, if you have a cool larder or outside store this would work just as well too.
Im Worried In Case My Baby Has An Egg Allergy
- an itchy mouth and irritated throat
- itchy skin or a rash around their mouth, nose and eyes, which may spread across their body
- swelling of their lips, eyes and face
- vomiting or diarrhoea
- a runny or blocked nose
- sore, red and itchy eyes
- swelling of the throat and tongue
- a fast heartbeat
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Are Eggs A Choking Hazard
No, eggs are generally not considered a high-risk choking food. However, its still important to prepare them safely so they are soft and easy to chew.
Hard-boiled eggs, for example, may be more of a choking hazard because the egg white and yolk are separated. At first, your baby might find it harder to manage two different textures at once. Offering your baby omelets, scrambled eggs, or egg muffins can be good early options, as the white and the yolk have been mixed together into one uniform texture. Remember that baby gagging is a normal part of how your baby learns to eat solids and will reduce over time.
As always, its important to create a safe eating environment for your baby to help reduce the risk of choking on any type of food. Some important tips for making your babys mealtimes as safe as possible include:
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Use an upright, supportive highchair, and offer food only when seated
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Offer foods that are easily mashed between your fingers
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Never leave your baby alone during mealtimes
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Offer small amounts of food at a time
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Limit distractions at mealtimes
In Brief: Feeding Your Baby At 612 Months
After 6 months, breastmilk is still your babys main source of energy and nutrients, but solid foods should now be added.
Your baby has a small stomach and needs to be eating small amounts of soft nutritious food frequently throughout the day.
In addition to grains and tubers, feed your baby a variety of foods especially animal foods , fruits and vegetables every day.
At 6 months of age, breastmilk continues to be a vital source of nutrition but its not enough by itself. You need to now introduce your baby to solid food, in addition to breastmilk, to keep up with her growing needs.
Be sure you give your baby her first foods after she has breastfed, or between nursing sessions, so that your baby continues to breastfeed as much as possible.
When you start to feed your baby solid food, take extra care that she doesnt become sick. As she crawls about and explores, germs can spread from her hands to her mouth. Protect your baby from getting sick by washing your and her hands with soap before preparing food and before every feeding.
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What Does Baby Need When They Are 6
At the 6 month mark, your baby has likely developed the ability to hold their head up, sit up unassisted, has lost the tongue thrust reflex, and can grasp items and bring them to their mouth and can begin eating solid foods. Keep in mind, though, that breast milk or formula is still their primary source of nutrition. Even if you notice your baby seems less interested in nursing or taking a bottle, you should not cut back on their feeding sessions at this age.
Babies this age should be taking about 6 to 8 ounces of formula or expressed milk around 5 to 7 times a day or nursing about every 3 to 4 hours during the day. All in all, they should still be consuming around 24 to 36 ounces of breastmilk or formula daily.
You also may notice that as your baby becomes more mobile that they may seem to want to eat more frequently. This is completely normal and may mean your baby will be eager for solid foods when you offer them, but remember that every baby is different.
As your baby becomes more proficient at feeding themselves solids, their relationship with nursing or bottle feeding may begin to change. But, it is important to remember that they should still be offered breastmilk on demand or offered formula on their same schedule. While solid foods are important to providing vital sensory experiences in these earlier months, your baby’s primary nutrient source is still either human milk or formula.
How Long Can You Eat Eggs Past The Expiration Date
Expired eggs sound scary, but theres a good chance that theyre perfectly safe to eat. How, exactly? To best explain, lets consider this scenario: You’re in the midst of making banana bread. You’ve got the butter softened, the bananas mashed, the dry ingredients combined. Now you need your eggs. Gasp! They expired two weeks ago. What would you do in this situation: Use them and never look back, or hope your neighbors can rescue you with fresher eggs?
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Should You Delay The Introduction Of Eggs To Your Baby
In the past medical experts have advised against introducing eggs to infants and babies early on for fear of allergic reactions. But more recently experts have found thereâs no reason to delay the introduction of eggs or other potential food allergens like fish and peanuts.
Introducing eggs to your baby doesnât increase the risk of an egg allergy or sensitivity. Therefore, delaying the introduction of eggs to your baby isnât necessary.
Smashed Egg With Yogurt
This is a pretty simple recipe that you can spoonfeed to your baby or preload on a self-feeding spoon and hand to your baby so they can feed themselves.
For this recipe, you can either use just the yolk or the entire egg for a chunkier puree. We start by mashing half of a hard-boiled egg with yogurt to get an appetizing, creamy texture. You can also mash the hard-boiled egg with a few white beans, soft tofu, chicken, or any thick puree you have on hand. If the mixture is too thick, you may need to add a few drops of breast milk, formula, or water.
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Egg Allergies In Infants And Children
Egg allergies are not uncommon in children, affecting 9% of kids under 4 years old. Many children with egg allergies are allergic to raw egg but can tolerate baked or cooked eggs, and most will outgrow the allergy by the age of four.
Egg allergy symptoms may include:
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Skin – hives, eczema, swelling, or flushing.
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Digestive – nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.
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Respiratory – a running nose, wheezing, or trouble breathing.
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Cardiovascular – a rapid heartbeat or low blood pressure.
While research continues to understand treatment options for children with egg allergy, dietary avoidance of all eggs is recommended. Some children with egg allergy will tolerate some egg baked into cake and biscuits, but this should only be tried with specialist medical advice.
Eggs are an important part of a balanced diet at all stages of life. If your child could be allergic, we encourage you to start a dialogue with your healthcare professional to discuss possible solutions to ensure your child meets their dietary needs.
How To Introduce Eggs For Your Baby
There are many ways for your baby to enjoy eggs. Omelets and scrambled eggs are easy, go-to favorites for babies, but you can also experiment with boiled, poached, baked, and fried eggs. Since eggs are quick and easy to prepare, they are a great option for busy families.
Both the egg white and yolk should be fully cooked when you offer them to your baby. Raw eggs and runny egg yolks carry a risk of foodborne pathogens such as Salmonella and should be avoided at least until age 5 when the immune system is less susceptible to serious infection. Even then, it is recommended to follow the CDCs guidance that pasteurized eggs be used when making foods that call for runny egg yolks. And, just like with all first foods, its best to keep added salt to a minimum but dont be afraid to get creative with some finely chopped herbs or mild spices as they get older.
Because eggs are a common food allergen, start with a very small amount of well-cooked egg, and watch your baby closely for any signs of allergy. Wait at least 3 days after introducing eggs for the first time before offering any other new foods. Once you know your baby tolerates them, you can also incorporate them into other dishes that you make for your baby.
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Are Eggs An Allergen
Yes, eggs are one of the most common food allergens. The others are milk, soya, wheat, peanuts, tree nuts, sesame, fish and shellfish.
When you introduce all of these allergens to your baby, its best to do them one at a time, starting with a small amount such as a quarter of a teaspoon and increasing gradually over the next few days.
You want to aim for your baby to be having a normal portion size of the food before you can say that the food has been successfully introduced.
If you are worried about allergies, I have an Introducing Allergens mini course for £20 which will guide you through how to introduce each of the common food allergens, how to prepare and cook them and how to spot a food allergy.
Eggs Rarely Go Bad When Stored Properly
In the US and certain other countries, including Australia, Japan, Sweden and the Netherlands, eggs require refrigeration .
This is because eggs in these countries are washed and sanitized soon after they are laid in an attempt to prevent contamination with Salmonella, the bacteria often responsible for food poisoning from poultry products (
The presence of bacteria inside an egg is what eventually causes it to go bad, or rot.
However, keeping an egg at refrigerator temperatures slows the growth of bacteria and helps prevent it from penetrating the shell .
In fact, refrigeration is so effective at controlling the growth of bacteria that in combination with an eggs protective shell and enzymes, refrigerated eggs rarely go bad as long as they have been handled and stored properly.
Nevertheless, egg quality declines over time. This means that the air pocket in an egg grows larger and the yolk and whites become thinner and less springy. Eventually, it may simply dry up instead of going bad.
Despite these changes, an egg may remain perfectly safe to eat for a long time .
Eggs wont stay good forever though, and there is a point at which youll want to throw them away.
Summary: Eggs rarely go bad if they have been handled properly and are stored in the refrigerator. However, they will decline in quality over time, and youll want to throw them away at some point.
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How To Minimise The Choking Risk
Young babies may prefer mashed egg. You can mash it down to a lovely creamy consistency with some of your babys usual milk. Egg in this form can be given from a spoon like any other purée.
Most babies from 6 months onwards can manage finger foods and so omelettes cut into strips or scrambled eggs make easy finger foods.
Older babies can move on to boiled eggs sliced into quarters lengthwise and dippy eggs with soldiers make a fantastic fun meal from 10-12 months .
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