
Sardines for babies
When and how to serve sardines at every stage of starting solids.
- Introduce from
- 6–9 months
- Safety notes
- Common allergen: Fish
- Omega-3 rich
How to prepare sardines by age
6–9 months
Mashed, bones included (soft). Low sodium variety.
9–12 months
Flaked or mashed.
12 months+
Whole sardines.
Common allergen
Contains fish , one of the 9 common food allergens.
Fish allergen.
First time with fish: Offer well-cooked, boneless fish such as salmon or cod, flaked. Choose lower-mercury fish.
If your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy, talk to your pediatrician before introducing allergens.
Nutrition highlights
- Omega-3 rich
- Calcium rich
- Vitamin D
- Protein rich
Serving ideas
- Mashed on toast
- In pasta
- Sardine cakes
- On toast fingers
Prepare these as described above for your baby’s age.
Choosing and storing
Storage: Canned: pantry. Opened: refrigerate and use immediately.
Recipes with sardines
Sources
This guide is based on published guidance from:







