Quick answer
Babies can eat tuna from around 6 months, once they show readiness for solids: sitting with little support, steady head control, and bringing food to the mouth. Finned fish is a top-9 allergen, so introduce tuna on its own, at home, and watch for reactions such as hives, swelling, vomiting, or wheezing for 2 to 3 days before adding another new allergen.
When can babies eat tuna?
Babies can eat tuna from around 6 months, once they show readiness for solids: sitting with little support, steady head control, and bringing food to the mouth. Finned fish is a top-9 allergen, so introduce tuna on its own, at home, and watch for reactions such as hives, swelling, vomiting, or wheezing for 2 to 3 days before adding another new allergen.
Choose canned light tuna packed in water, which is usually skipjack, a smaller species that accumulates less mercury; albacore or white tuna contains roughly three times more and is best avoided for babies, as are big-eye and yellowfin, including most fresh tuna steaks. Limit tuna to about 1 oz (28 g) once or twice a week per FDA and EPA guidance, and lean on lower-mercury fish like salmon, sardines, cod, and white fish for more frequent fish meals. Never serve raw tuna to babies.
See our first foods for baby guide for more ideas.
Safety Tips
- ✓Choose canned light tuna in water; it is lower in mercury than albacore (white), big-eye, or yellowfin, which are best avoided for babies and young children.
- ✓Limit tuna to about 1 oz (28 g) once or twice a week for babies and young toddlers, per FDA and EPA guidance, and serve lower-mercury fish like salmon, cod, or sardines more often.
- ✓Fish is a top-9 allergen: introduce tuna on its own and watch for reactions for 2 to 3 days before adding another new allergen.
- ✓Drain canned tuna well to reduce sodium, avoid tuna packed in oil or salty brine, and check the flakes for any stray bones.
- ✓Never serve raw tuna (sashimi or poke) to babies because of listeria and parasite risk.
- ✓Mix flaked tuna into a moist mash or sauce so it is not dry and crumbly, and always supervise with your baby seated upright.
Select Baby's Age
How to serve tuna for a 6 month old
At 6 months, open a can of light tuna in water, drain it well to shed excess sodium, and check through the flakes for any stray bones. Flake the tuna very finely with a fork, then mix it into a soft, moist carrier: mashed potato, mashed avocado, sweet potato, or plain whole-milk yogurt all work well and stop the fish from being dry or crumbly in a new eater's mouth. Aim for a soft, scoopable mash you can offer on a preloaded spoon, and keep the tuna portion to about 1 oz, no more than once or twice this week. Skip salt entirely, avoid tuna packed in oil or brine, and never offer raw or seared tuna. Introduce it on its own first, since fish is a top-9 allergen, and supervise with your baby seated upright.
6 month baby feeding schedule for more tips.
Tuna recipe ideas for babies
Once your baby has tolerated tuna, try these simple, low-salt ways to serve it within the weekly limit. See our baby recipes.
- ★Finely flaked light tuna mashed into potato and sweetcorn for a soft first meal.
- ★Tuna and avocado mash spread on a soft toast finger for self-feeding.
- ★Soft avocado and tuna mini cakes that small hands can grip.
- ★Flaked tuna stirred through soft pasta with an unsalted tomato sauce.
Explore our baby-led weaning food list and first foods for baby for more inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can babies eat tuna?
Most babies can eat tuna from around 6 months when starting solids. Always serve it in a safe size and texture appropriate for your baby's age and development.
How do you cut tuna for baby led weaning?
For babies around 6 months, tuna should be cut into large pieces that are easy to grasp with their hands. As babies develop their chewing skills, the pieces can gradually become smaller.
How to serve tuna baby led weaning?
For BLW, cut tuna into strips or wedges that babies can hold. The texture should be soft enough to mash easily with gentle pressure.
Can babies choke on tuna?
tuna can become a choking hazard if served in small round or hard pieces. Cutting it into larger soft pieces appropriate for baby-led weaning helps reduce choking risk.
How should tuna be served to a 6 month old?
At around 6 months, tuna should be served in large soft pieces that babies can hold with their hands. See our full ingredient guide.
Is tuna safe for baby led weaning?
tuna can be included in baby-led weaning when cut into safe shapes and soft textures that babies can hold and gum.
How small should tuna be cut for older babies?
From around 9 months, babies typically use a pincer grasp, so tuna can be cut into smaller pea-sized pieces. Continue ensuring pieces are soft enough to mash and watch for any choking risk shapes.
Should tuna be cooked or raw for babies?
Cook tuna until easily mashable when raw textures are too firm for babies to gum. Soft ripe fruits are often offered raw, while firmer foods are typically steamed, roasted, or boiled until tender.
Can tuna be served as a finger food at 6 months?
Yes, tuna can be a 6-month finger food when cut into long graspable strips and softened to a mashable texture. Always supervise meals and adjust shape as your baby's chewing skills develop.
How to cut tuna for a 7 month old?
At 7 months babies still use a palmar (whole-hand) grasp. Cut tuna into long strips about 2-3 inches long and finger-width thick, with part sticking out of the fist for chewing. Soft enough to mash between two fingers.
How to cut tuna for an 8 month old?
At 8 months babies are refining grasp and may begin pincering. Continue offering tuna in 2-inch strips alongside a few small pea-sized pieces to practice the pincer grasp. Cooked until easily mashable.
How to cut tuna for a 9 month old?
At 9 months most babies have developed the pincer grasp. Cut tuna into pea-sized pieces (about ½ inch / 1.5 cm) for self-feeding practice. Continue avoiding round, hard, or sticky shapes; soft enough to mash with mild pressure.
How to cut tuna for a 10 month old?
At 10 months babies eat a wider variety of textures. Offer tuna in pea-sized pieces or small bite-sized cubes (½ inch / 1.5 cm). They can manage slightly firmer textures, but pieces should still mash easily.
How to cut tuna for a 12 month old?
From 12 months babies eat in pieces about ½ inch (1.5 cm). Round foods (grapes, cherry tomatoes) must still be quartered until age 4 due to choking risk. Soft enough to chew without much molar work.
Can babies eat tuna for breakfast?
Yes - tuna can be part of a balanced baby breakfast when prepared in baby-safe shapes. Pair with a protein, healthy fat, or whole grain (eggs, yogurt, oats, nut butter on toast) for a complete morning meal.
verifiedSources & References
This guide is informed by current guidelines from leading health organizations:
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