Protein Food Library
When can babies have drum fish?
Can babies have drum fish?
Babies can have drum fish, including black drum and red drum (redfish), from 6 months, as long as it is fully cooked, flaked and checked for bones. Drum is a mild white fish and a low choking risk once bones are removed. Fish is one of the Top 9 allergens, so introduce drum carefully.
How to serve drum fish by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Bake, steam or poach drum fillet until it is opaque and flakes easily, reaching 145 F. Check carefully for bones, then blend or mash it smoothly with potato, avocado or plain yogurt and offer it on a spoon.
7–8 months
Mash bone-free cooked drum with a fork so it keeps soft lumps, mixed into potato, rice or vegetables. You can also offer a large soft flake your baby can grab, or a soft fish cake that falls apart easily when pressed.
9–12 months
Offer small, bone-free flakes of cooked drum for pincer-grasp practice, or mix flaked drum into fish cakes, rice or pasta. Season with lemon and herbs instead of salt.
12 months +
Toddlers can have drum fish in tacos, fish cakes, soups and stews. Keep checking for bones and choose baked or grilled fish over fried.
Why it’s good
Drum fish gives babies high-quality protein, vitamin B12, selenium, phosphorus and some omega-3 fats for brain and eye development. It is a lean white fish with a mild, slightly sweet taste. Fish served twice a week is a healthy part of a baby's diet.
Safety notes
- Remove all bones and skin. Run your fingers over every flake before serving, since drum has firm bones that can hide in the fillet.
- Cook drum fish until it reaches 145 F and flakes easily. Never serve raw or undercooked fish to babies.
- Large, older drum, especially big red drum, can carry more mercury. Choose smaller fish, follow local fish advisories for anything you catch, and vary the fish you serve.
- Avoid fried and breaded drum for babies, which adds salt and makes pieces harder to manage.
- Use fresh fish within 1 to 2 days, or freeze it.
Introduce drum fish on its own, then keep it in
Fish is one of the Top 9 food allergens. Offer a small amount of well-cooked drum early in the day, watch for hives, vomiting, swelling, coughing or wheezing, and if tolerated keep fish in your baby's diet regularly. Talk to your pediatrician first if your baby has severe eczema or another food allergy.
Drum fish for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about drum fish for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have drum fish?
Babies can have drum fish from 6 months, once it is fully cooked and all bones are removed. Serve drum mashed smoothly into other foods at first, then as soft flakes from 7–8 months.
Can babies have drum fish?
Yes, babies can eat drum fish, including black drum and red drum. Drum is a mild white fish that gives babies protein, vitamin B12 and selenium.
Is drum fish a choking hazard for babies?
Drum fish is a low choking risk for babies when it is cooked, flaked and completely free of bones. Bones are the main danger, so check each flake carefully and always stay with your baby during meals.
Is drum fish a common allergen?
Yes, drum fish is a common allergen because fish is one of the Top 9 food allergens. Introduce a small amount first, watch for signs of a reaction, and keep fish in the diet once it is tolerated.
How do I serve drum fish to a 6 month old?
To serve drum fish to a 6 month old, bake or steam the fillet until it flakes easily, remove all bones and skin, and blend or mash the fish smoothly with potato or avocado. Offer it on a spoon. Large, soft flakes to hold can follow at 7–8 months.
Is drum fish high in mercury?
Drum fish is not one of the high-mercury fish to avoid, but large, older drum can carry more mercury than smaller fish. Choose smaller fish, follow local advisories for fish you catch, and rotate drum with low-mercury fish like salmon and cod.
What is the difference between black drum and red drum?
Black drum and red drum are related fish with similar firm, mild white meat. Red drum is also called redfish, and both can be served to babies the same way once cooked and deboned.
How much fish can a baby eat?
Babies can have fish such as drum about two times a week as part of a varied diet. A serving for a baby is small, around 1 to 2 tablespoons, and grows with your child's appetite.
Can babies have blackened redfish?
Blackened redfish is usually coated in a salty, spicy seasoning, so it is not ideal for babies. Cook plain red drum for your baby and season it lightly with lemon, herbs or a pinch of mild paprika.
The takeaway
- Babies can have drum fish, including black drum and red drum (redfish), from 6 months, as long as it is fully cooked, flaked and checked for bones.
- Bake, steam or poach drum fillet until it is opaque and flakes easily, reaching 145 F.
- 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.