Nuts & seeds Food Library
When can babies have hazelnut spread?
Can babies have hazelnut spread?
Sweet chocolate hazelnut spread is best saved until about 2 years, because it is mostly sugar and health experts advise no added sugar before age 2. Plain, unsweetened hazelnut butter is different and can be offered from about 6 months, thinned and spread thinly, as a way to introduce tree nuts. Hazelnut is a tree nut, one of the Top 9 allergens.
How to serve hazelnut spread by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Skip chocolate hazelnut spread. Thin a small amount of plain, unsweetened hazelnut butter with water, breast milk or formula, then stir it into smooth oatmeal or plain yogurt and offer it on a spoon.
7–8 months
Keep skipping chocolate spread and use plain hazelnut butter instead. Stir thinned hazelnut butter into thicker oatmeal or mashed banana, or spread a very thin layer on a soft toast strip.
9–12 months
Keep using plain hazelnut butter, spread thinly on toast fingers or mixed into yogurt or mashed banana. Keep offering it regularly once tolerated.
12 months +
Toddlers can keep having plain hazelnut butter. After 2 years, a thin layer of chocolate hazelnut spread on toast or fruit is fine as an occasional treat.
Why it’s good
Plain hazelnut butter gives babies healthy fats, vitamin E, some protein and minerals like manganese and copper. Chocolate hazelnut spreads are mostly sugar and oil, with a smaller share of hazelnuts, so they offer much less nutrition. Chocolate spreads also contain a small amount of caffeine-like compounds from cocoa.
Safety notes
- Never serve thick globs of any nut spread, or nut spread straight off a spoon. Thick spreads can stick to the roof of the mouth and block the airway. Always thin it or spread it in a very thin layer.
- Never give whole or chopped hazelnuts to babies or toddlers. Whole nuts are a major choking hazard until at least age 4.
- Chocolate hazelnut spread is high in added sugar, which is best avoided before 2 years.
- Check labels for milk, soy and other nuts, which are common in chocolate spreads.
- If your baby has severe eczema or another food allergy, talk to your pediatrician before introducing tree nuts.
Introduce hazelnut spread on its own, then keep it in
Hazelnut is a tree nut, one of the Top 9 allergens. Introduce plain hazelnut butter in a small amount, watch for hives, vomiting, swelling, coughing or wheezing, and keep it in the diet regularly once tolerated.
Hazelnut spread for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about hazelnut spread for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have hazelnut spread?
Babies can have chocolate hazelnut spread from about 2 years, since it is high in added sugar. Plain unsweetened hazelnut butter can be introduced from 6 months, thinned and spread thinly.
Can babies have Nutella or chocolate hazelnut spread?
Babies under 2 are best kept away from chocolate hazelnut spread because it is mostly sugar. Plain hazelnut butter is a better way to introduce hazelnut as an allergen.
Is hazelnut spread a choking hazard for babies?
Hazelnut spread is a medium choking risk for babies when served thick, since sticky globs can block the airway. Thin hazelnut spread or spread it in a very thin layer, and never serve whole hazelnuts.
Is hazelnut spread a common allergen?
Yes, hazelnut spread is a common allergen because hazelnut is a tree nut, one of the Top 9 food allergens. Chocolate hazelnut spreads often also contain milk and soy.
How do I serve hazelnut spread to a 6 month old?
To serve hazelnut to a 6 month old, use plain unsweetened hazelnut butter rather than chocolate spread. Thin a small amount with water or breast milk and stir it into oatmeal or yogurt.
Does chocolate hazelnut spread have caffeine?
Chocolate hazelnut spread contains cocoa, which has small amounts of caffeine and theobromine. The amount is low, but it is one more reason to save chocolate spreads for older toddlers.
How often should I give my baby hazelnut after introducing it?
Once your baby has eaten hazelnut without a reaction, keep offering it a few times a week. Regular exposure to allergens like hazelnut helps keep them in the diet.
Can I make my own hazelnut spread for my toddler?
Homemade hazelnut spread for a toddler can be made by blending roasted hazelnuts until smooth, then mixing in a little cocoa and ripe banana or dates for sweetness. Serve it thinly spread.
The takeaway
- Sweet chocolate hazelnut spread is best saved until about 2 years, because it is mostly sugar and health experts advise no added sugar before age 2.
- Toddlers can keep having plain hazelnut butter.
- Choking risk is medium. Tree nut 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)
- Peanut Allergy: What to Know About the Latest Prevention Guidelines American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture and HHS
- 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.