Duck egg

Duck egg, like chicken egg, can be offered from about 6 months once baby shows signs of readiness for solids. Egg is a common food allergen.

A duck egg has a bigger yolk, and the yolk makes up more of the egg compared with the white. For that reason it is considered more nutritious than a chicken egg.

Nutrition

Eggs are an excellent source of fat and protein. They give the iron and some of the zinc babies need to grow. The yolk in particular holds nearly every vitamin except vitamin C. Selenium and B vitamins, B12 especially, are plentiful in duck eggs. Choline and cholesterol are important for bone, brain and cell growth. Few foods contain vitamin D, which aids calcium absorption, and eggs are among them.

Always cook the egg thoroughly. Raw or runny egg can carry salmonella, which can cause a bacterial illness in the gut.

For a baby starting solids, an omelet is the best form. It carries the yolk into every bite and poses less choking risk than a hard-boiled egg.

Duck egg can pose a choking risk. Omelet is safer than hard-boiled egg. Quarter hard-boiled egg or cut it into thin rounds.

Stay near baby during meals.

After milk, egg is the most common food allergen. Egg allergy affects roughly 2% of children. Many outgrow it.

Give a tiny amount the first time, for example a small slice of omelet eaten over a minute or two. A few babies have strong reactions to even the tiniest amount. Watch for signs closely.

Possible signs: teary eyes, hives, a rash, wheezing, itchiness, a puffy face, a cough, throwing up, loose stools, or belly pain. Should the reaction be strong, baby look flushed, or breathing become hard, call emergency services at once. It may be anaphylaxis.

Research shows benefits in introducing allergens as soon as baby is ready for solids.