Prep warning
Always cook salmon all the way through until it flakes and is opaque, never raw, smoked, cured, or seared. Choose low-mercury salmon and avoid the highest-mercury fish (such as shark, swordfish, and marlin) for young children. Add no salt.
Choking notes
The main hazard with salmon is bones. Pin bones are thin and easy to miss, so run your fingers through every piece and remove them, along with the skin, before serving. Always cook salmon fully and serve it soft and flaked.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Cook salmon through until it flakes easily and is opaque throughout, never raw or seared. Run your fingers through it to remove every pin bone and the skin, then flake it finely or mash it into a smooth purée. Mix with breast milk, formula, or a vegetable purée to loosen the texture. As a Big-9 allergen, introduce it on its own and wait a few days before adding another new food. Choose salmon (a low-mercury fish) and skip the highest-mercury fish entirely. Add no salt.
Soft pea-size flakes, checked by hand for bones, or a smooth mash. Skin removed.
9-12 months
Keep cooking salmon fully until it flakes and is opaque, removing every pin bone and the skin. As the pincer grasp develops, offer it as soft flakes or thin strips to pick up, or a thicker mash. Low-mercury fish like salmon fits a routine of about two child-size servings a week. Continue with no added salt.
Small soft flakes or thin strips, still checked for bones. Skin off.
12-18 months
Serve salmon cooked through, deboned, and skinned, in bite-size soft pieces as part of family meals. Flake it over grains or fold it into soft dishes. Stay with low-mercury fish like salmon and keep an eye on portion size. Keep added salt low.
Bite-size soft flakes, bones removed. Skin off.
Key nutrients
Allergen information
Fish is a common allergen. Read Fish guidance
Common questions
When can my baby eat Salmon?
Most babies can try Salmon from around 6 months, once they show signs of readiness. Check the prep and cut-size notes above before you start.
General informational content, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about introducing new foods, especially if your baby has any medical conditions or family history of allergies.
Track Salmon and every first food in nappi
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