How to Introduce Nuts to Baby

Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).

Here are 10 safe ways to introduce peanuts, almonds, cashews and other nuts and seeds to your baby! In this guide, you will learn how to safely introduce nuts and seeds to your baby – when you should introduce them, which nuts you can introduce first, and our favorite easy baby-friendly recipes for both purees and baby-led weaning.

Nuts for Baby

There is no doubt about it – introducing nuts to baby can be scary!

Not only are nuts a choking hazard they are also one of the top eight allergens. 😱

But don’t worry, in this guide, we will go over all the information you need to feel confident in serving nuts 🥜 to your baby.

In this guide, you’ll find:

1. Benefits of Nuts for Baby
2. When to Introduce Peanuts and other Nuts to Baby
3. What Nuts Can be Introduced to Baby
4. Are nuts a choking hazard for baby?
5. Are nuts a common allergen?
6. How to Introduce Nuts to Baby
7. How to Introduce Nuts in a Puree
8. How to Introduce Nuts for Baby-Led Weaning
9. 4 Feeding Tips when Introducing Nuts
10. Recipes

Benefits of Nuts for Baby

Nuts have tons of nutrients and health benefits and can be incorporated into baby’s diet countless ways. 

Different nuts have different nutrient profiles, but in general, nuts are high in fat, which is important for a baby’s growth and development. In addition, they all contain protein, vital for muscle growth and tissue repair, and fiber, which helps keep the digestive system healthy. Nuts also contain calcium, iron, folate, vitamin E, zinc, and many other micronutrients. 

When to introduce peanuts and other nuts to baby

The latest recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics, National Institute of Health and the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology all recommend introducing nuts and peanuts right after baby starts solid foods, around 4-6 months, to help prevent food allergies from developing, unless your baby has a history of eczema or food allergies. If this is the case, your pediatrician will advise you on when to introduce nuts, likely around 6 months, after an allergy evaluation. 

WHAT NUTS CAN BE INTRODUCED TO BABY

All nuts (and seeds) can be introduced to baby in a safe way. Some common nuts/seeds to feed baby are:

• Peanuts
• Almonds
• Flaxseeds
• Chia seeds
• Cashews
• Sunflower seeds
• Sesame seeds
• Hemp seeds
• Hazelnuts
• Pine nuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Pistachios

Nut Butters

You can make your own nut butter or buy a store-bought brand of any of the nuts or seeds above. If using a store-bought brand, just make sure it is free from any additives such as sugar, salt, oils, or preservatives – it should only contain the nut or seed you which to introduce.

Ground Nuts and Seeds

You can also serve finely ground nuts or seeds to your baby sprinkled on top of a puree, oat cereal, avocado, banana, or other solid food. To grind the nuts or seeds, you can either place a small handful into a blender or food processor and pulse until you have tiny pieces. Check the nut size when pulsing them every 20 seconds as you don’t want to make a nut paste or nut butter. You can also place a small number of nuts on a cutting board and finely chop them. Once you have your finely chopped nuts or seeds, you can sprinkle them onto a portion of food, leave them as is, or stir to incorporate.

Nut Butter Tip: if your nut butter is too thick and clumpy, you can place a small amount in a microwave-safe bowl and heat in 20 intervals, stirring each time, until just warm. The heat will help the nut butter smooth out and become thinner.

Are nuts a choking hazard for your baby?

Whole nuts are a choking hazard and should not be given to children under 4. Chunky nut butter with large globs should also be avoided because it can also be a choking hazard. Serve nuts in the form of puffs, nut powder, finely chopped, flours, thinned nut butter, or in purees to be safe. 

Are nuts a common allergen?

Tree nuts and peanuts are both considered top food allergens so just be aware of any reactions baby may have when feeding foods with nut ingredients in them. Reactions can happen within minutes to hours after feeding so its best to serve them at a time when you can observe your child for a few hours after, rather than at dinner time. Some symptoms of a reaction include itchy rashes, hives, vomiting, trouble breathing, swelling of the lips and tongue, and anaphylaxis. Call your pediatrician of any of these develop, or 911 if your child is experiencing anaphylaxis. Seeds are less likely to be an allergen. 

HOW TO INTRODUCE NUTS TO BABY

There are several different ways to prepare nuts for your baby! You can incorporate nut butters into a smooth puree, a combination puree, as nut butter thinly spread on toast for baby-led weaning or in a smoothie. You can also sprinkle finely chopped nuts on a slice of banana, avocado, sweet potato wedges or into oatmeal or yHere are some of my favorite ways to introduce peanuts and nuts to your baby:

4-6 Months

• Yogurt with nut butter
• Chunky banana puree with almond butter and a pinch of cinnamon (can make as smooth or as chunky as you prefer)
• Warm apple puree with peanut butter
• Nut butter on the tip of your finger
• Oat cereal with peanut butter or sprinkle of chopped nuts
• Nut-based puffs

6-9 Months

• Chunky banana puree with almond butter and cinnamon
• Nut butter thinly spread on toast, pancakes or waffles
• Homemade bread or muffins baked with almond flour
• Pasta tossed with pesto
• Chunky oatmeal with peanut butter
• Nut-based puffs

9+ Months

• Strawberry banana smoothie with nut butter

How to Introduce Nuts in a Puree

It’s easy to add in any nut or seed butter to almost any puree your baby prefers. Here are some of my favorite purees to add it into:

• Yogurt
• Banana Puree
• Apple Puree
• Oat Cereal
• Sweet Potato Puree
• Broccoli Puree
• Apple, Carrot + Sweet Potato Puree
• Apple + Kale Baby Food Puree
• Banana, Cherry + Beet Baby Food Puree

How to Introduce Nuts for Baby-Led Weaning

• Nut-based puffs
• Pasta tossed with pesto (if making at home, you can change which nuts or seeds you use as the base)
• Toast with a thin spread of nut butter
• Chunky oatmeal with nut butter
• Strawberry banana smoothie with nut butter
• Finely chopped nuts sprinkled on Banana, Avocado or Roasted Sweet Potato Wedges
• Mixed into the batter of banana pancakes

4 Feeding Tips when Introducing Nuts

1. Serve Nuts Earlier in the Day: When you plan to introduce a type of nut, offer them earlier in the day at breakfast or lunch, so you can monitor your baby for any reactions that might arise.
2. An Exposure can be a Small Amount: You don’t need to worry about forcing your baby to consume a large serving in order to determine if there is a reaction.
3. Spread Thin and Stir Well: Since globs of nut butter are choking hazards for babies and young children, make sure to spread it thinly on toast or crackers. It’s also important to stir the nut butter until well blended with purees such as oatmeal or applesauce. If your nut butter is too thick, try placing it in a small bowl and heating it in the microwave until just warm, stir and then add to purees or spread on toast.
4. Keep it on the Menu: Once you’ve introduced a particular type of nut into your baby’s diet, aim to include it in your baby’s weekly meal plan. This can help decrease the likelihood of developing an allergy later on in life.

Recipes

Get the recipe: How to Introduce Nuts to Baby

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Here are 10 easy and safe recipe ideas on how to introduce peanuts, almonds, cashews and other nuts and seeds to your baby! 

Prep: 5 minutes minutes

Author: Michele Olivier

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Ingredients 

Chunky Banana Puree with Almond Butter + Cinnamon

• 1/2 ripe banana
• 1/4-1/2 tsp nut butter (almond, peanut, cashew, etc.)
• pinch cinnamon

Warm Applesauce with Peanut Butter

• 1/4 cup applesauce or apple puree, store-bought or homemade
• 1/4-1/8 tsp nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)

Yogurt with Nut Butter

• 1/4 cup whole milk plain yogurt
• 1/4-1/2 tsp nut butter (cashew, almond, peanut, etc.)

Nut Butter on Tip of your Finger

• 1 dollop nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)

Nut Butter on Toast

• 1 piece toated whole-grain bread, pancake or waffle
• 1/4 tsp nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)

Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Peanut Butter

• 1/2 ripe banana
• 4-5 frozen frozen strawberries
• 1/2 tsp nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)
• 3 ice cubes
• 12/-1 cup milk of choice (regular, formula, breast milk or plant-based)

Ground Nuts on Banana

• 1 tbsp nuts (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)
• 1/2 banana

Pesto Pasta

• 1-2 tbsp pesto, homemade or store-bought
• 1 cup cooked pasta

Oat Cereal with Nut Butter

• 1 cup water
• 1/2 cup old-fashioned oats
• 1 tbsp nut butter (peanut, almond, cashew, etc.)

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Instructions 

Chunky Banana Puree with Almond Butter + Cinnamon

• On a cutting board or small bowl, mash the banana with the back of a fork until chunky or smooth (depending on which consistency you prefer), add in the nut or almond butter and a pinch of cinnamon. Mix until completely incorporated and serve.
  

Warm Applesauce with Peanut Butter

• In a small bowl, add in the applesauce or apple puree. Drizzle in the peanut butter (or any nut butter). Place the bowl in the microwave and warm in 10-second intervals, stirring in-between cooking times, or until just warmed. The peanut butter will melt a little bit, making it easy to mix until fully incorporated.
  

Yogurt with Nut Butter

• In a small bowl, add in the yogurt and cashew butter (or any nut butter). Lightly swirl the cashew butter on top and serve.
  

Nut Butter on Tip of your Finger

• Add a small dollop of nut butter on the tip of your finger and let baby lick it off.
  

Nut Butter on Toast

• Toast a piece of whole wheat bread and lightly butter one side. Cut the crust off on one side of the bread (babies can sometimes have a hard time gumming the crust), then spread a small amount of peanut butter (or any nut butter) on the crustless end of the toast. You can also use pancakes or waffles with this recipe.
  

Strawberry Banana Smoothie with Peanut Butter

• In a blender, add in banana, frozen strawberries, peanut butter (or any nut butter), ice cubes and milk and blend on high until completely smooth, adding more milk if needed.
  

Ground Nuts on Banana

• Place the nuts on a cutting board and chop until finely ground. Alternatively, you can place a larger portion in the blender or food processor and pulse until they are finely ground. Make sure to check every 20-30 seconds to make sure you don't over-grind them into a nut butter.

  Cut a banana in half. 2 inches from the end of the banana, slice the peel gently all the way around. Take the ring of peel off. Sprinkle the exposed banana with the finely ground nuts.

  Note: you can also sprinkle finely ground nuts on avocado, sweet potato wedges, oatmeal, puree, etc.
  

Pesto Pasta

• Mix together the cooked pasta and pesto. Serve to baby.
  

Oat Cereal with Nut Butter

• In a small saucepan pan, bring the water to a boil. Add in the oats and peanut butter and turn the heat down to a low. Simmer for 8-10 minutes or until the water has been absorbed and the oats are cooked.

  For a Puree: transfer the oats to a blender or food processor and blend until smooth or your desired consistency.

  For Baby-Led Weaning: spoon the oats onto a place in small 2-3 inch circles. Place the plate in the fridge to cool. As the oats cool they will hardern, which makes it easier for baby to pick up and eat.

  In the picture, I show the peanut butter swirled on top so you can see it. You can also serve it like this or just mix it in while cooking.
  

Notes

Age: see list above

Yield: each recipe will give you 1-2 baby servings. 

Nuts: All nuts (and seeds) can be introduced to your baby in a safe way. Some common nuts/seeds to feed baby are:

• Peanuts
• Almonds
• Flaxseeds
• Chia seeds
• Cashews
• Sunflower seeds
• Sesame seeds
• Hemp seeds
• Hazelnuts
• Pine nuts
• Macadamia nuts
• Pistachios

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