When can a baby have salmon?
Last updated October 1, 2026
The NHS lists fish among the foods to offer from around six months, cooked through and with the bones taken out. Oily fish has a weekly guideline of its own, and smoked and raw salmon each need a word.
When can a baby have salmon?
The NHS lists fish among the protein foods to offer from around 6 months, and says any cooked food should have "cooled right down before offering it to your baby." Serve salmon as a thick cooked strip your baby can hold, or flaked once they can pick up smaller pieces.
Fish is one of the UK's 14 declarable allergens. The NHS advice for any allergen is to start "1 at a time and in very small amounts so that you can spot any reaction."
Take out the bones and the skin. The NHS says to "remove all bones from meat or fish" and lists "fish (no bones)" among protein foods from around 6 months; it also says to remove any skin and fat to make it easier to swallow. Run a finger over each piece before serving to feel for any you missed.
How do you serve salmon?
This recipe mashes cooked salmon with avocado and a little lemon, with no added salt or sauce. As your baby gets more confident with lumps, the same salmon can be flaked or cut into a soft strip they pick up themselves.
How often can a baby have oily fish?
Salmon counts as oily fish, and the NHS has weekly figures for it. These are the NHS's words, and they are not a target for a baby.
The first is general advice for everyone: a balanced diet includes "at least 2 portions of fish a week, including 1 of oily fish." It gives no separate portion size for babies. The second is a limit for children. Under the NHS heading "Should children and babies over 6 months eat fish?", it says: "You can give boys up to 4 portions of oily fish a week, but it is best to give girls no more than 2 portions a week." The reason it gives is that pollutants in oily fish "can build up in the body and may harm an unborn baby during a future pregnancy."
Whatever the fish, babies and children under 16 should not eat shark, swordfish or marlin, because the mercury in them "can affect the development of a baby's nervous system."
Can babies have smoked salmon?
The NHS baby pages do not name smoked salmon, so there is no NHS wording on it to give you here. It is a salty food, and the salt guidance is the part the NHS does cover. Babies "should not have much salt, because their kidneys are not fully developed and cannot process it", and the limit for under-1s is less than 1g a day. The NHS lists cured fish among salty foods to eat less often, and says to check the salt content on the packaging. Read the NHS salt guidance and talk to your health visitor or GP if you are unsure.
Can babies have raw salmon (sashimi)?
Cook salmon through for your baby, including when sashimi is the only fish on the menu. The NHS baby pages do not mention sashimi or raw fish by name. They do say raw or lightly cooked shellfish can increase the risk of food poisoning, and they say to "cook all food thoroughly" before giving it to your child.