Protein Food Library
When can babies have bass?
Can babies have bass?
Babies can have bass from 6 months, fully cooked with all bones and skin removed. Black sea bass and farmed European sea bass are lower-mercury choices, while striped bass and Chilean sea bass are higher and best limited to about once a week. Fish is one of the Top 9 allergens, so start small and keep it in the diet once tolerated.
How to serve bass by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Bake or steam bass until opaque and flaky, remove the skin and every bone, then blend it with a little cooking water, breast milk or formula into a smooth puree. Mix it with mashed potato or smooth vegetable puree and offer it on a spoon.
7–8 months
Mash cooked, deboned bass with a fork into potato, rice or avocado for a lumpier texture. You can also offer large soft flakes or a soft piece about the size of two adult fingers to hold, checking each one again for bones.
9–12 months
Flake cooked bass into small pieces for your baby to pick up, or mix it with mashed potato and egg to make soft fish cakes. Keep checking each flake for bones.
12 months +
Toddlers can eat bass from the family meal, cut into small bite-sized pieces. Season lightly with lemon, herbs and garlic instead of salt.
Why it’s good
Bass gives lean protein for growth, plus omega-3 fats for brain and eye development. Bass also provides vitamin B12, selenium and some vitamin D. Choosing lower-mercury types of bass helps your baby get these benefits safely.
Safety notes
- Cook bass to 145°F (63°C), until it is opaque and flakes easily. Never serve raw or undercooked fish.
- Bass fillets can have pin bones. Run your fingers over every piece and remove all bones and skin.
- Not all bass is equal for mercury. Black sea bass and farmed European sea bass (branzino) are lower; striped bass and Chilean sea bass are higher and best limited to about once a week.
- If family members catch freshwater bass (largemouth, smallmouth), check your local fish advisory before serving it to children, as levels vary by lake and river.
- Do not serve smoked, cured or raw bass dishes such as ceviche to babies.
Introduce bass on its own, then keep it in
Bass is a fish, and fish is one of the Top 9 food allergens. Offer a small amount first, watch for hives, vomiting or swelling, and talk to your pediatrician first if your baby has severe eczema or a known food allergy.
Bass for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about bass for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have bass?
Babies can have bass from 6 months, once they are ready for solid foods. Bass should be fully cooked and deboned, blended smooth at first, then served in soft flakes or larger pieces to hold from about 7–8 months.
Can babies have bass?
Yes, babies can eat bass, and its mild white flesh is easy for babies to manage. Choose lower-mercury types like black sea bass or farmed European sea bass for regular meals.
Is bass a choking hazard for babies?
Bass has a low choking risk because cooked fish is soft and flaky. The main risk is small bones, so check every piece carefully before serving.
Is bass a common allergen?
Yes, bass is a fish, and fish is one of the Top 9 common food allergens. Introduce bass in a small amount and keep fish in the diet regularly if your baby tolerates it.
How do I serve bass to a 6 month old?
To serve bass to a 6 month old, steam or bake the fillet until it flakes, remove all skin and bones, and blend it into a smooth puree with a little liquid or mashed potato. Offer it on a spoon. Soft flakes and larger pieces to hold can follow at 7–8 months.
Is bass high in mercury?
Bass mercury levels depend on the type. Black sea bass and farmed European sea bass are low, while striped bass and Chilean sea bass have more mercury and are best served no more than about once a week.
Is branzino the same as sea bass?
Yes, branzino is European sea bass, usually sold whole and farmed. Branzino is a mild, low-mercury fish that works well for babies once the many small bones are removed.
Can babies have freshwater bass caught in a lake?
Babies can eat freshwater bass only if your local fish advisory says it is safe for children. Largemouth and smallmouth bass can build up mercury in some waters, so check before serving and limit portions.
How often can my baby eat bass?
Babies and toddlers can eat lower-mercury bass like black sea bass two to three times a week as part of a varied fish routine. Higher-mercury bass like striped bass or Chilean sea bass should be limited to about once a week.
The takeaway
- Babies can have bass from 6 months, fully cooked with all bones and skin removed.
- Bake or steam bass until opaque and flaky, remove the skin and every bone, then blend it with a little cooking water, breast milk or formula into a smooth puree.
- Choking risk is low. Fish is one of the Top 9 allergens: offer a small amount first, watch for a reaction, then keep it in the diet regularly.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Advice about Eating Fish U.S. Food and Drug Administration
- The Effects of Early Nutritional Interventions on the Development of Atopic Disease in Infants and Children Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW; American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2019;143(4):e20190281
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Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.