Sole

Sole can be offered from about 6 months. As a finned fish it is a common allergen.

What sole is

"Sole" is an everyday name covering a family of bottom-dwelling flatfish. Many species live around the world in fresh and salt water, on floors of mud or sand. That is why it has many names in many languages. Names can confuse. European Dover sole and Pacific Dover sole belong to different families. The flesh is firm, white, and flaky. It is baked, boiled, pan-fried, or deep-fried.

Nutrition

Sole is rich in protein. It supplies vitamins B6 and B12 for heart and nerve health. Healthy fats and vitamin D support brain growth and immunity. Fish gives you vitamin D and selenium too, which are nutrients that few other foods offer.

Mercury

Like most fish, sole holds a trace of mercury. Mercury is a heavy metal that can especially harm babies. The level in sole is lower than in many white fish such as halibut or grouper. One to two servings a week is considered safe.

Cook the fish fully and check carefully for bones. At six months, serve strips or mix it into a vegetable or yogurt purée. At nine months give bite-size pieces, and at one year flaked fish.

Sole is low in fat. Babies need plenty of fat for brain growth. A knob of butter or some avocado, olive, or coconut oil can go on top.

Sole rarely causes choking. Bones in fresh fish are the risk.

Pick out every remaining bone before serving. Set up a safe eating space and stay beside your baby.

Finned fish are among the World Health Organization's global priority allergens. About two in a thousand people worldwide are allergic to finned fish. The rate in children is even lower than in adults. Around 40 percent of people with fish allergy have their first reaction in adulthood. In most, the allergy does not go away.

Cross-reactions

About half of people allergic to one fish react to other fish too, because the main allergen, beta-parvalbumin, is in most fish. Because of cross-contact and mislabeling, allergists often advise avoiding all finned fish. This is a personal decision. If your baby is allergic to sole, ask your allergist before offering any other fish.

Some people with fish allergy also react to vapors from cooking. If that is the case, you may want to skip cooking fish at home when baby is around.

When introducing

If you suspect an allergy, ask an allergist before giving sole. Give a small amount the first time and watch closely while baby eats. If all is well, raise the portion slowly. After a successful start, keep it in the diet twice a week when possible. You do not have to serve each fish type several times a week. Since fish share main proteins, you can rotate kinds based on availability.

Other conditions

Fish can trigger a delayed allergy called FPIES. Its sign is repeated vomiting and diarrhea starting suddenly hours after eating. Without treatment it leads to fluid loss. FPIES to fish can appear later in life and often lasts for life.

When fish is not kept properly cold, a lot of histamine builds up in it. That causes scombroid poisoning. Its signs look like allergy, so it is sometimes mistaken for one. Keeping fish cold enough lowers the risk.