Octopus
- First taste
- 12 months
- Choking risk
- high
- Common allergen
- yes
- Iron
- high
From 12 months · mercury and salt · rubbery
Contains allergens
Each new allergen is offered on its own and watched for two hours. Our allergen introduction guide is available in Turkish for now.
When can babies eat octopus?
Octopus is a mollusk and a cephalopod. Protein and omega-3 fats are its strong points. It carries vitamin B12 for the nervous system, iron for the brain and selenium for immune health.
Wait until closer to 12 months before serving it regularly. It holds a moderate amount of mercury and a good deal of sodium. Octopus is a very intelligent sea creature. Several hundred species live from coral reefs to the deep ocean. In Greece it is sun-dried and grilled over coals. In Japan it is eaten as tako, in sashimi and sushi.
Mercury and salt
Octopus has moderate mercury and plenty of salt. Wait until closer to 12 months before offering it regularly. The Environmental Defense Fund in the US considers up to 3 servings a month safe for children up to age 5, assuming no other fish is eaten.
How do you prepare octopus for babies?
Octopus is easier to cut after cooking. The trick is not to leave it rubbery. There are two ways: sear it in a very hot pan for about a minute, or cook it gently for a long time so the collagen softens. Done means a knife passes easily through the thickest part and the meat feels soft.
Fresh or frozen octopus is better than canned. Cans may be lined with BPA, and labels often do not say. If canned is your only choice, pick one packed in oil or water and avoid sauced kinds. Rinsing can lower the sodium a little.
Calamari is squid, not octopus. It is a different mollusk.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
12 months
12 months · How to cut into matchsticksstrip
Cut: Finger strip
Slice a cooked arm lengthwise into matchstick strips. If it is rubbery, slice again. Expect plenty of spitting, since octopus is hard to chew and children this age have no molars yet. Do not serve whole arms or round pieces.
12 months · After 18 months, bite-sized piecescube
After 18 months, offer cooked octopus cut lengthwise into bite-sized pieces that are not round or cylindrical. Around age 3 some children can learn to bite a whole arm. If your child is not ready, slice it lengthwise as finger food.
Is octopus a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: high
Octopus is firm, and rubbery if cooked wrong. Do not serve round arm pieces. Slice the arm lengthwise into matchstick strips.
Cooked octopus is firm and rubbery if not cooked right. That is hard for children whose chewing skills are still developing. Do not serve whole arms or round pieces. Rubbery, cylindrical foods like shrimp carry a choking risk.
Seat your child next to you for meals and stay within arm's reach.
No round pieces
Cylindrical and round octopus pieces are a choking risk. Always cut them lengthwise.
Is octopus a common allergen?
Octopus is a mollusk. The World Health Organization counts only crustaceans, such as shrimp and crab, as priority allergens. Many countries do label mollusks as allergens too. In this app we treat octopus as a shellfish allergen.
Someone allergic to octopus may also react to other mollusks, such as mussels, oysters, squid and snails. The chance of reacting to crustaceans like shrimp and crab is above 70 percent. Shellfish allergy is uncommon in childhood and usually starts in adulthood. When it starts in childhood, it often lasts.
A shellfish allergy does not mean a fish allergy. Still, cross-contact can happen in facilities that process both.
If you suspect your baby may be allergic, talk to an allergist before offering octopus. For the first try, give a very small amount.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about octopus
Can babies eat octopus?
Hold off on regular servings until nearer 12 months, since it carries a moderate amount of mercury and plenty of sodium. After 12 months, serve thin lengthwise strips.
Are octopus and calamari the same?
No. Calamari is squid, a different mollusk. Both are cephalopods but they are different animals.
How often can octopus be served?
The Environmental Defense Fund in the US considers up to 3 servings a month safe for children up to age 5, if no other fish is eaten. Ask a professional for Turkey-specific advice.
Can I give canned octopus?
Fresh or frozen is better, since cans may contain BPA. If you buy canned, pick one packed in oil or water and rinse it.
Sources for this page
- Lopata AL, O'Hehir RE, Lehrer SB. (2010). Shellfish allergy. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2222.2010.03513.x
- Food Allergy Research & Education. (n.d.). Shellfish allergy.
- US FDA and EPA. (2021). Advice about eating fish.
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com