Written by Editorial Team
The delicious taste of all types of shellfish makes it effortless for a baby to eat them. If given after 6 months of age, it becomes completely safe. Still, you’ll have to buy only approved shellfish from safe and well-known sources because otherwise, there will not be any guarantee if it’s contamination-free or not. Further, shellfish for babies are rich in protein, so they are wonderful for your little one’s growing years.
Some babies might be allergic to some types of shellfish. So, it’s best to give them a tiny portion of one of the shellfish and stop for a few days to notice any signs of reactions. Also, you can refer to the table below for the nutritional value of shellfish, and there are some healthy and yummy recipes that you can give a try.
In This Article
Shellfish will add up to your baby’s growth and development. But it can be harmful too if polluted with materials like cadmium and mercury. Various types of shellfish are known to be potential allergens due to the presence of such chemicals and pollutants. For this reason, you must be careful to introduce these to your baby once they are comfortable with a good number of basic solid foods. It may be a good idea to talk to your pediatrician before giving shellfish to your baby.
Shellfish can be categorized into crustaceans and mollusks, and their nourishing micronutrients, healthy fats, and protein offer numerous health benefits. Further, feed your baby shellfish at the right time and with the right precautions, and after talking to your pediatrician to avoid any potential harm or side effects.
Your baby can enjoy the remarkable taste of shellfish once they are over 6 months and can easily eat solid food like grains, meat, poultry, cereals, and so forth. But some doctors advise not to feed it until the babies are at least 9-12 months old. Because of the allergies that are caused by shellfish, you should take them to a pediatrician, especially if allergies are common in your family.
Even when giving shellfish for the first time, you must strictly follow the 3-day rule and not introduce any other foods during this time. Also start with very small quantities, say half a teaspoon. This will help minimize any potential allergic outcomes if your baby is allergic to these seafood variants.
[Read : The 3-Day Wait Rule For Babies To Introduce Solids]
Depending on the type of Shellfish (mollusks and crustaceans), its nutritional content is slightly different. Crustaceans like lobster, crab, crayfish, krill, shrimp, and prawn are the most preferred ones, and when it comes to mollusks, oysters, clams, scallops, and mussels are generally eaten. And the table below will give you an idea of the approximate nutritional value of varieties of Shellfish (cooked) served in three ounces (85g).
Nutrients | Oysters | Scallops | Clams | Lobster | Shrimp |
Calories | 100 | 140 | 110 | 80 | 100 |
Calories from fat | 35 | 10 | 15 | – | 10 |
Total fat | 4 gm | 1 gm | 1.5 gm | – | 1.5 gm |
Saturated fat | 1 gm | – | – | – | – |
Cholesterol | 80 mg | 65 mg | 80 mg | 60 mg | 170 mg |
Sodium | 300 mg | 310mg | 95 mg | 320 mg | 240 mg |
Potassium | 220 mg | 430 mg | 470 mg | 300 mg | 220 mg |
Protein | 10 gm | 27 gm | 17 gm | 17 gm | 21 gm |
Vitamin A(%DV) | – | 2% | 10% | 2% | 4% |
Vitamin C(%DV) | 6% | – | – | – | 4% |
Calcium (%DV) | 6% | 4% | 8% | 6% | 6% |
Iron(%DV) | 45% | 14% | 30% | 2% | 10% |
Here are some of the vital health benefits that you baby can enjoy from eating shellfish.
Shellfish such as scallops, blue crab, shrimp, etc will give a lot of rich and high-quality protein to your baby. And these proteins, along with other healthy nutrients are vital for your baby’s healthy development.
Shellfish are a good source of carotenoids such as astaxanthin which springs up the immune system. Moreover, the goodness of Vitamins, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc, iron and copper make it even more nourishing. So, if your baby gets sick very often, you may consider Shellfish for their diet after taking advice from your pediatrician.
DHA (Docosahexaenoic acid) and (Eicosapentaenoic acid) EPA ( types of Omega 3 Fatty acids) may strengthen the functions of your little one’s brain. And with it comes the blessing of learning with ease.
Giving a reasonable amounts of shellfish to your baby can provide them with plenty of micronutrients like sodium, copper, zinc, vitamins B12, iodine, and potassium. And all these are very crucial to bringing harmony to your little one’s body functions and their brain’s growth.
Seafood such as shellfish contain very less sodium and salt portions. As a result, they are safe for your baby.
Thus, with all the other great benefits, your baby will get the extra advantage of intaking salt in a very healthy quantity.
Following these below points will largely take care of potential problems caused by Shellfish to infants.
[Read : Infant Choking]
Be mindful of these potential side effects, and consult your paediatrician if you see any of these;
Mercury contamination can happen in lobsters, crabs, and scallops. And other types of shellfish are also prone to impurities caused due to lead and mercury. Mostly, these contaminations take place when they are collected from polluted waters. Moreover, this can negatively affect your baby’s nervous system. You may not typical allergy symptoms if the seafood has chemical contamination which doesn’t suit your baby.
Raw, or even undercooked mussels, oysters, and some other types of shellfish also pose the risk of poisoning from viruses and bacteria. And sometimes, harmful pathogens like norovirus are found in shellfish which are harvested from impure waters. Other than that, these polluted shellfish are at the risk of having marine contaminants – brevetoxin algal bloom (HAB) toxin, which may harm a baby’s health.
Typical food poisoning symptoms include
You may need to rush to the doctor immediately if you see these symptoms after your baby has eaten shellfish. The priority will be to reduce the effects of the poisoning and prevent further dehydration.
Allergies caused by shellfish can vary as per the baby and the type of Shellfish. Here are some of the common allergic symptoms of shellfish for babies.
Furthermore, a severe allergic reaction can lead to anaphylaxis, which is a life-threatening condition.
Here are some popular and most loved shellfish recipes for your little one.
Chop the cooked crab well and add mashed potatoes to spring up the taste.
Add cooked and finely chopped shellfish to mashed avocado and apply this mixture over toasted bread. Cut into age-appropriate pieces and offer them to your baby.
Mix mashed white beans, properly diced shellfish or shrimp, egg, and breadcrumbs in a bowl. Make small patties out of it, bake and give your baby little strips of these to make it easy for them to eat.
Shellfish for babies are highly nutritious foods. But you need to be a bit cautious before you serve your baby the recipes with it. Feeding shellfish at the right time, and in the right way with consulting a pediatrician minimizes all chances of side effects.
[Read : Avocados For Babies]
Babies are at risk of choking hazards and the bones and shell pieces of the shellfish may prove to be a choking hazard for babies. So, you need to cut the shellfish into small pieces or serve it as puree or mash.
You can introduce crab to your baby at around 1 year of age. When in doubt, you can take the advice of a pediatrician before introducing crab to your baby.
Don’t give shellfish for 3-5 days after your baby takes their first small serving. During this period, some signs like diarrhea, stomachache, etc. may pop up if they’re allergic to it.
Read Also: Salmon For Babies – When to Introduce, Benefits and Precautions
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