Family foods Food Library
When can babies have fish sticks?
Can babies have fish sticks?
Babies can have fish sticks from about 6 months if they are fully cooked and the crunchy coating is removed. At 6 months, mash the fish inside smoothly; soft finger-size portions can follow at 7–8 months. Fish sticks are usually made from low-mercury white fish like cod or pollock. Fish is a common allergen, and the breading usually contains wheat.
How to serve fish sticks by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Bake fish sticks until cooked through, peel off all the breading, and mash or blend the soft fish inside smoothly with potato, avocado or a little breast milk or formula. Check carefully for bones and offer it on a spoon.
7–8 months
Remove the crunchy breading and flake the soft fish into lumpier mashed potato or avocado. You can also offer the soft fish inside in finger-size portions that squash easily between your fingers.
9–12 months
Cut fish sticks into small bite-size pieces about the size of a chickpea. If the coating is soft, you can leave some on; remove any hard, crispy bits.
12 months +
Once your toddler chews well, serve whole fish sticks cut in half lengthwise with vegetables and a dip like plain yogurt with lemon. Keep store-bought fish sticks to once or twice a week because of sodium.
Why it’s good
Fish sticks give protein, vitamin B12, iodine and some omega-3 fats for brain and eye development. Most fish sticks are made from white fish, which has less omega-3 than salmon or sardines. Breaded fish sticks are also higher in sodium and fat than plain baked fish.
Safety notes
- Remove hard, crunchy breading for young babies, as it can break into sharp pieces.
- Cook fish sticks until hot all the way through, to an internal temperature of 145 F (63 C), even if the box says precooked.
- Check for bones, even in products labeled boneless.
- Choose fish sticks made from low-mercury fish like cod, pollock, haddock or salmon.
- Compare labels for sodium, and skip salty sauces like tartar sauce and ketchup for babies.
Introduce fish sticks on its own, then keep it in
Fish sticks contain fish, one of the Top 9 allergens, and the breading usually contains wheat and sometimes egg or milk. Introduce plain fish first if you can, then watch for hives, vomiting, swelling or wheezing, and keep fish in the diet once tolerated.
Fish sticks for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about fish sticks for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have fish sticks?
Babies can have fish sticks from about 6 months, as long as they are fully cooked and the crunchy coating is removed. Fish sticks are an easy way to offer fish, a common allergen, early and often.
Can babies have fish sticks?
Yes, babies can eat fish sticks if the fish is cooked through, the hard breading is removed, and the pieces are sized for their age. Plain baked fish is still a lower-sodium choice for everyday meals.
Are fish sticks a choking hazard for babies?
Fish sticks are a medium choking risk for babies because the crunchy coating can break into hard, sharp pieces. Remove or soften the breading and check carefully for bones.
Are fish sticks a common allergen?
Yes, fish sticks contain fish, which is one of the Top 9 allergens. Fish sticks also usually contain wheat in the breading, and sometimes egg or milk.
How do I serve fish sticks to a 6 month old?
To serve fish sticks to a 6 month old, bake them until hot all the way through, peel off the breading, and mash the soft fish smoothly into potato or avocado, offered on a spoon. Soft finger-size portions of the fish can follow at 7–8 months.
Are fish sticks high in mercury?
Most fish sticks are low in mercury because they are made from cod, pollock or haddock. These fish are among the best choices for babies and young children.
Are frozen fish sticks healthy for babies?
Frozen fish sticks can be part of a healthy diet for babies when served occasionally. Frozen fish sticks are higher in sodium and lower in omega-3 than plain fish, so balance them with fish like salmon.
How often can babies eat fish sticks?
Babies can eat fish sticks once or twice a week as part of the 1 to 2 small servings of low-mercury fish a week recommended for young children. Vary fish sticks with plain cooked fish.
Can I make homemade fish sticks for my baby?
Yes, homemade fish sticks are easy to make for babies. Cut cod or salmon into strips, coat in egg and fine breadcrumbs, and bake until cooked through, with no added salt.
The takeaway
- Babies can have fish sticks from about 6 months if they are fully cooked and the crunchy coating is removed.
- Bake fish sticks until cooked through, peel off all the breading, and mash or blend the soft fish inside smoothly with potato, avocado or a little breast milk or formula.
- Choking risk is medium. 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
- Choking Prevention American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- 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
Track every new food in your baby’s passport
Track the first 100 foods and the Top 9 allergens. 7 days free.
More family foods for babies
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.