Squid

Squid can be offered once baby is ready for solids, around 6 months. Raw squid should never go to a baby.

Where it comes from

The world has several hundred squid species. They live in coral reefs, tidal pools, and the deep ocean. Some are small and abundant, like the firefly squid whose glow lights Japanese waters at spawning. A close relative of the octopus, squid is intelligent, sees well, and escapes by changing color and squirting ink. All of the body is edible except the beak. The word calamari comes from Italian and Spanish and in cooking describes various squid dishes.

Nutrition

Squid supplies omega-3 for eye and brain growth and selenium for immunity. Like most seafood it is a good protein source to support growth. Because it lives a short life, it takes in fewer pollution toxins than long-lived fish like tuna. The US Food and Drug Administration and Environmental Protection Agency rank it a low-mercury best choice.

Fresh squid keeps only one day in the fridge after purchase. Frozen squid is an affordable, easy-to-find option, whole or pre-cut.

Pick fresh or frozen over canned when possible. The BPA lining cans can disrupt a baby's body functions, and squid cans often do not say BPA-free. If canned is your only option, watch the salt; squid packed in olive oil or water is usually less salty than squid in sauces.

Skip dried, fermented, marinated, or pickled squid. These have added sodium, sugar, and other additives unfit for babies. Avoid squid cured in ink too. Squid ink holds metals such as cadmium, copper, and lead in high amounts, so keep that treat for adults and older children on special occasions.

Where possible, consider where and how the seafood was caught. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch gives sustainability advice.

Squid cooks up dense, and overdone or underdone it turns chewy like rubber. Both traits are tough for young eaters.

To lower the risk, mince squid into other foods, or offer the whole mantle and let baby suck and munch, taking away pieces as needed. Set up a safe eating space and stay beside your baby.

Squid is a mollusk. The World Health Organization counts only crustacean shellfish (shrimp, crab) as priority allergens, not mollusks. Many regulators around the world, though, group the two together and label mollusks as common allergens. Shellfish allergy tends to start in adulthood more than childhood. When it starts in childhood, it is mostly not outgrown.

Related conditions

Someone allergic to squid may also react to related mollusks such as clams, mussels, octopus, oysters, scallops, and snails. Their risk of reacting to crustaceans (crayfish, crab, lobster, shrimp) is also over 70 percent. If you suspect your baby has a shellfish allergy, see an allergist before giving squid.

Shellfish allergy does not mean finned fish allergy, as the two are not closely related. Cross-contamination can happen, though, because they are often prepared in the same places with shared tools.

When introducing

As with any new food, start with a small amount and watch closely for any reaction. If all goes well, raise it slowly.