Tuna for Babies
Complete guide on how to prepare and serve tuna to your baby, by age.
Find recipes with Tuna in Dalo SolidsLast reviewed: May 2026
Safety Information
How to Serve Tuna to a 6–9 Months Old
How to Cut
For young babies, choose canned tuna in water with no added salt. Drain well and mash thoroughly with a fork to avoid any lumps. Remove any bones or tough pieces. You can mix with a little breastmilk, formula, or yogurt to create a smoother texture that's easy for baby to swallow. Serve as a puree or well-mashed by itself, or blend into mashed vegetables or soft-cooked grains. Always offer small amounts alongside iron-rich foods, and avoid serving large flakes or chunks, as these can pose a choking risk.
Serving Instructions
At this age, tuna can be introduced as a source of protein and important nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and iron. Offer about 1-2 tablespoons (15-30g or 0.5-1 oz) well-mashed or pureed tuna as part of a meal that also includes iron-rich foods (beans, lentils, egg yolk), vitamin C sources (broccoli, bell pepper), and a fat source (avocado, olive oil). Limit tuna to 1-2 times per week due to mercury content, and always watch for allergic reactions with any new fish.
Milestones at this age
See what development milestones to expect at 6–9 Months — cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional.
How to Serve Tuna to a 9–18 Months Old
How to Cut
Once your baby has developed pincer grasp and handles chunkier textures, offer tuna as flakes or small, soft, moist pieces (about 0.5 cm or 1/4 inch). Always check for bones—run your fingers through and pick out any hard bits. Continue to avoid dry or stringy tuna, which can stick to the roof of the mouth; keep serving it moist, perhaps mixed with mashed avocado or yogurt. Tuna can be served atop toast fingers or folded into soft pasta, rice, or chopped vegetables. Never serve it in large chunks.
Serving Instructions
Offer 2-3 tablespoons (30-45g or 1-1.5 oz) of moist, flaked tuna mixed into meals. Continue pairing with iron and vitamin C-rich foods for optimal nutrition, and maintain healthy fats in the meal. Consider tuna salad (with yogurt or avocado instead of mayonnaise) on toast fingers, pasta, rice or as a filling in omelets. Limit to 1-2 servings per week due to mercury. Always check for bones and monitor for allergic reactions.
Milestones at this age
See what development milestones to expect at 9–12 Months — cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional.
How to Serve Tuna to a 18+ Months Old
How to Cut
From 18 months, children can typically handle larger bites, but it's still safest to serve tuna as small flakes or bite-sized, moist pieces (1-2 cm or 1/2-3/4 inch). Supervise carefully and make sure there are no bones or hard bits. Tuna can be stuffed into sandwiches, added to salads, pasta, or rice bowls, or served as part of a balanced plate. Encourage self-feeding with a fork or fingers, but continue to avoid very dry tuna. Always ensure portions are appropriate for your child's chewing skills, and cut or shred as needed.
Serving Instructions
Offer up to 3-4 tablespoons (45-60g or 1.5-2 oz) of flaked or shredded tuna as part of a balanced meal. Combine with grains, vegetables, and healthy fats—think tuna sandwiches, pasta, or rice bowls. Limit to 1-2 servings per week due to mercury. Continue to remove bones, serve moist, and supervise mealtimes closely. Encourage independent eating, and offer water alongside for hydration. Ensure fish intake is part of a varied, nutrient-dense diet.
Milestones at this age
See what development milestones to expect at 18–24 Months — cognitive, motor, language, and social-emotional.
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When to Talk to Your Pediatrician
Every child is different, and your pediatrician knows your baby best. If your baby has known allergies, was born prematurely, or has any feeding difficulties, consult your doctor before introducing new foods. If you ever observe signs of an allergic reaction — such as hives, swelling, vomiting, or difficulty breathing — seek emergency medical care immediately.
Important Safety Disclaimer
Every child develops chewing and swallowing skills at their own pace. The preparation methods shown are general guidelines; you must always evaluate your individual child's ability before serving. By offering this food, you agree to the following:
- Choking & Preparation: All foods can pose a choking hazard. You are strictly responsible for modifying food sizes and textures to match your child's skills. Always physically inspect this food for hidden hazards (e.g., bones, pits, seeds, splinters, or tough skins) before serving.
- Food Handling: Ensure all ingredients are properly washed, stored, and cooked to safe internal temperatures to prevent foodborne illness. Never serve raw or undercooked meat, poultry, seafood, or eggs to an infant.
- Allergens: Introduce any new food one at a time. Observe your child closely for signs of an allergic reaction (hives, swelling, vomiting, or difficulty breathing) and seek emergency medical care immediately if symptoms occur.
- Strict Supervision: 100% active, arm's-length adult supervision is required at all times while your child is eating or interacting with food.
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Age and preparation guidance informed by the USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the World Health Organization's complementary feeding guidelines, ESPGHAN's (European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition) position paper on complementary feeding, and EFSA's (European Food Safety Authority) scientific opinion on the introduction of complementary feeding. This content is independently created by Dalo Baby for informational purposes only and does not imply endorsement by or affiliation with any of these organizations.
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