Almond

Almonds can be offered finely ground, or as a smooth, thinned nut butter, once your baby is about 6 months old and ready for solids. Botanically an almond is a seed. The almond is the seed inside the fruit of a tree that comes from southwest Asia, the way a cherry or peach holds a pit. People call the young fruit green almond, and in some cultures its soft flesh is a seasonal treat.

Almonds supply healthy fats and protein. They also hold zinc, vitamin E, iron, calcium, fiber, magnesium and potassium. They help growth, bone density, immunity and the gut microbiome. The skin is especially rich in antioxidants.

For babies

Loosen smooth almond butter using water, milk from the breast, formula or applesauce. Offer it alone or stir it into porridge or yogurt. A very thin layer on a toast strip also works. An open cup of water on the side helps wash down sticky bits.

Grind almonds into a flour and dust it over sticky foods such as banana. You can also fold almond butter or flour into pancake, waffle and muffin batter.

From age 3

Keep serving finely ground almonds and smooth butter. Health organizations count whole almonds as a choking risk until age 4 and beyond. Almonds are hard and tough to bite into, so it is safer to practice chewing with a softer nut first.

A child may be ready when they take small bites, chew well, do not stuff the mouth and can spit out poorly chewed food. Serve nuts only to a child sitting upright and focused on the meal. Offer one or two at a time. If your child does not bite down, let them spit it out and try again in a few weeks.

Whole almonds are small, hard and tough to chew, and almond butter is sticky. Both raise the choking risk. Whole, chopped and broken almonds are not given before age 4. Always thin the butter well and mix it into yogurt or purée. Do not serve thick butter off a spoon on its own. Stay close while your baby eats.

Almond is a common allergen. Although it is technically a seed, it counts as a tree nut. Between 0.5% and 1.2% of people have a tree nut allergy. The allergy is usually lifelong, and only about 9% of children outgrow it. Most reactions are mild, but severe ones have been reported.

People with birch pollen allergy may feel an itchy, tingly or burning mouth after eating almond, especially the skin. This is pollen-food syndrome, and a severe reaction is unlikely.

Allergy to one tree nut raises the chance of allergy to another. People allergic to almond are more likely to react to hazelnut, for example. That does not mean every nut must go. Work with an allergist to decide which nuts are safe.