Egg for Babies: How to Serve Them Safely
Yes. Fully cooked egg can generally be introduced around 6 months, when a baby is ready for solids. Egg is a common allergen, so offer a small amount first, then keep it in the diet regularly if it is tolerated.
Can babies eat eggs?
Yes. Well-cooked egg — scrambled, omelet strips, or hard-boiled and mashed — is appropriate from about 6 months. Do not serve runny yolk or raw egg.
When can babies have eggs?
Current allergy guidance supports introducing cooked egg around 6 months, not delaying it. If your baby has severe eczema or an existing food allergy, ask your pediatrician before the first taste.
Eggs provide high-quality protein, fat, and choline, which supports brain development. They are also an easy way to add iron-adjacent variety to breakfast.
How to serve egg
How to serve egg at 6 months
Start with a small taste of fully cooked egg, then build up. Serve mashed yolk and white, or soft omelet strips about the size of two adult fingers. There should be no runny parts.
How to serve egg at 9 months
Offer bite-sized pieces of well-cooked egg once the pincer grasp appears. A little water in an open cup can help with swallowing.
How to serve egg at 12+ months
Serve strips, small pieces, or scrambled egg. Keep eggs fully cooked. Pair with fruit or toast for a simple breakfast.
Are eggs a choking hazard?
Large rubbery chunks of hard-boiled egg white can be harder to manage. Mash or cut into strips, and avoid whole hard-boiled eggs until chewing is mature.
Are eggs an allergen?
Egg is one of the most common infant food allergens. Introduce it in a tiny amount, watch for hives, vomiting, swelling, or breathing changes, and then keep offering cooked egg a few times a week if it is tolerated. Do not delay egg without medical advice.
How much egg can a baby eat?
First taste: about 1/8 of a cooked egg. Next meals can move to 1/4, then more as tolerated. A whole egg is a reasonable toddler portion, not a requirement at 6 months.
Do eggs need to be cooked?
Yes. Eggs for babies should be fully cooked until both white and yolk are firm. Avoid runny eggs and foods with raw egg.
Can babies eat frozen eggs?
Cooked egg dishes can be refrigerated and eaten within 3–4 days. Freezing scrambled egg is optional; texture suffers.
How to prepare egg
- Hard-boil for 10 minutes, or cook an omelet or scramble until no liquid egg remains.
- Cool until comfortable to touch.
- Mash or cut into graspable strips.
Storage
- Refrigerate raw eggs and use by the date on the carton.
- Keep hard-boiled eggs in the fridge for up to 1 week.
- Refrigerate cooked egg dishes within 2 hours.
Easy egg recipes
Frequently asked questions
Can babies eat egg yolk only?
You can start with yolk, but the white is where egg allergy is more common. Introducing well-cooked whole egg is more useful for allergy prevention.
How often should I serve egg after the first introduction?
If tolerated, serve cooked egg about twice a week so the baby keeps regular exposure.
Sources
- Addendum guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy in the United States — NIAID
- Food Allergies in Babies and Children — American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
- Starting Solid Foods — American Academy of Pediatrics
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods — CDC
- Complementary feeding — World Health Organization
- Your baby’s first solid foods — NHS
Reviewed by Morvarid Nikousokhantayar, Canadian Child Nutrition & BLW Expert.