No. 88 · Protein Passport food
When can babies have cod?
Can babies have cod?
Babies can have cod from about 6 months, once they are ready for solids. Cod is a mild, flaky, low-mercury fish that is easy to serve once it is fully cooked and checked for bones. Fish is a Top 9 allergen, so introduce cod early and keep it in the diet.
How to serve cod by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Bake, steam or poach cod until it is opaque and flakes easily, then check carefully for bones. Mash or blend the cod smooth with potato, sweet potato or a little breast milk or formula and offer it on a spoon.
7–8 months
Fork-mash boneless cod into potato or sweet potato for a lumpier texture, or offer large soft flakes your baby can grab. Soft cod cakes made with mashed potato that squash easily between your fingers also work well.
9–12 months
Offer smaller flakes for pincer practice, or make soft cod cakes with mashed potato and egg, shaped into finger-length patties. Cod also mixes well into pasta or rice.
12 months +
Toddlers can eat flaked cod with family meals, in fish tacos with soft toppings, or in homemade breaded fish strips baked in the oven. Keep checking for bones every time.
Why it’s good
Cod gives babies lean protein, iodine for thyroid and brain development, vitamin B12, selenium and phosphorus. Cod is low in mercury and is listed among the FDA's best choices for children. It is lower in omega-3 fats than oily fish like salmon or sardines, so rotating fish types gives the best mix.
Safety notes
- Cook cod fully, to 145°F, until it is opaque and flakes easily with a fork. Never serve raw or undercooked fish to babies.
- Check every piece for bones by pressing the flakes between your fingers. Cod fillets can contain thin pin bones.
- Salt cod (bacalao) is heavily salted. Skip it for babies or soak it for a long time with many water changes, and still keep portions small.
- Store-bought fish sticks and battered fish are higher in sodium and often fried. Homemade baked cod strips are a better option.
- Cod is low in mercury and fine to serve 1 to 2 times a week as part of a varied fish routine.
Introduce cod on its own, then keep it in
Cod is a fish, and fish is one of the Top 9 food allergens. Introduce a small amount, watch for hives, vomiting, swelling, coughing or wheezing, and talk to your pediatrician first if your baby has severe eczema or another food allergy; a fish allergy is separate from a shellfish allergy.
Cod for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about cod for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have cod?
Babies can have cod from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids. Cod must be fully cooked, flaked and checked carefully for bones.
Can babies have cod?
Yes, babies can eat cod from 6 months. Cod is a mild, soft, low-mercury fish and a great way to introduce fish, one of the Top 9 allergens.
Is cod a choking hazard for babies?
Cod is a low choking risk for babies when it is cooked soft and served in flakes or patties. The biggest risk is bones, so check every flake carefully and always stay with your baby while they eat.
Is cod a common allergen?
Yes, cod is a common allergen because fish is one of the Top 9 allergens. Introduce cod in a small amount and, if your baby tolerates it, keep offering fish regularly.
How do I serve cod to a 6 month old?
To serve cod to a 6 month old, bake or steam a boneless fillet until it flakes easily, then mash or blend it smooth with potato or sweet potato and offer it on a spoon. Large soft flakes and soft cod cakes your baby can hold can follow at 7–8 months.
Is cod high in mercury?
No, cod is a low-mercury fish and is on the FDA's list of best choices for babies and children. Cod can be part of 1 to 2 fish meals a week.
Can babies have frozen cod?
Yes, babies can eat frozen cod, which is often just as nutritious as fresh. Thaw frozen cod in the fridge, or cook it from frozen and allow extra time so it is fully cooked in the center.
Can babies have fish sticks?
Babies can occasionally have fish sticks, but store-bought versions are often high in sodium and may be fried. Homemade cod strips coated in breadcrumbs and baked are a healthier option for babies and toddlers.
Can babies have salt cod?
Salt cod, or bacalao, is very high in sodium and is best avoided for babies. If it is part of your family's cooking, soak it thoroughly with frequent water changes and offer only a small taste.
Is cod good for babies?
Yes, cod is a great fish for babies from about 6 months. It is mild, flaky and low in mercury, and it gives protein, iodine, vitamin B12 and selenium. Cook it fully, check carefully for bones, and offer it about 1 to 2 times a week as part of a varied diet.
The takeaway
- Babies can have cod from about 6 months, once they are ready for solids.
- Bake, steam or poach cod until it is opaque and flakes easily, then check carefully for bones.
- 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.