Olive oil

Olive oil can be offered once baby is about 6 months old and ready for solids. This healthy fat is pressed out of olives. The olive tree is native to the Mediterranean region.

Olive oil contains omega-3 and omega-6 fats, vitamins E and K, and antioxidants. These give energy for movement and exploration and support brain growth, immunity, bone density and heart health.

Whatever olive oil your family uses is fine for your baby too. Whether an oil is virgin, extra virgin, first press, cold pressed, or flavored, the nutrition is about the same. Any of them can be used to cook for babies and children.

You can drizzle it over fish, meat and grains. It gives your baby energy.

Make sure you buy pure olive oil. Some products are blended with oils from more allergenic plants such as hazelnut or soy. With a known allergy in your child, check the label.

Olive oil is a liquid and carries a low choking risk. Drizzle it on food or cook with it.

Stay within arm's reach of your baby during meals.

Allergy to olive oil is uncommon. Some olive oils are blended with oils from more allergenic plants, such as hazelnut and soy, so read the label if your child has known food allergies.

In areas where olives are harvested, contact dermatitis and olive allergy have rarely been seen. People allergic to olive tree pollen or with pollen food syndrome may react when eating olives. Plants in the same family as the olive include ash, privet, jasmine and forsythia. The reaction is a short itch, burn, or tingle in the mouth, and it is rarely dangerous. In theory it could extend to cold-pressed oil, but most people allergic to the fruit tolerate the oil.

Give only a taste at the first few meals.