Tahini
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- medium
- Common allergen
- yes
- Iron
- high
Sesame allergen · serve thinned out
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 tahini?
Thin tahini out with purée, water, formula, or breast milk, and it can be served once your baby appears ready for solids, typically at 6 months. Choking is a risk with tahini and with other nut and seed butters. So read the preparation section first.
Tahini is made by grinding sesame seeds. It comes from hulled or unhulled, roasted or raw seeds. Countless dishes, from sauces to hummus to halva, rest on the taste of tahini.
Tahini with honey
Honey is not given in any form before 12 months. Do not serve tahini with honey, or tahini mixed with honey.
Nutrition
It brings healthy fats, as well as iron, zinc, calcium, and B vitamins. These matter for brain growth, bone health and immunity. Protein and fiber keep your baby full and help digestion. It also holds antioxidant compounds such as lignans and phytosterols.
How do you prepare tahini for babies?
Every baby develops at their own pace. These tips are general guidance.
At 6 months, thin the tahini with milk, water or purée until it runs. Stir it into warm porridge, yogurt or mashes. Spread it very thinly on toasted bread or pita strips. Offer a little water in an open cup alongside. Tahini dips such as hummus and baba ghanoush work too. You can add it to pancake and baked batters, or to sauces and marinades.
By 12 months, tahini can be mixed into yogurt or porridge, or lightly spread on bread. Thinning first is not needed, but keep spreading thinly. Do not serve big clumps.
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.
6 months
6 months · How to adjust the consistencymash
Cut: Smooth puree
Thin pure sesame tahini well with breast milk, formula or water until it runs freely. In its thick form it can stick to the palate and cause choking. It is dense in fat and calories, so start with an amount no bigger than the tip of a teaspoon. You can also stir it into fruit purée or yogurt.
6 months · Thinly spread on toast stripsstrip
Brush thinned tahini in a very light layer over toasted bread or pita fingers. Put a small open cup of water nearby so sticky bits go down easily. Read the label and avoid tahini with honey.
12 months
12 months · Mixed into food or spread thinlymash
Mix tahini into oatmeal or yogurt, or smear a thin layer over bread or toast. At this age thinning first is not needed, but keep spreading thinly and avoid big clumps. Tahini dips such as hummus and baba ghanoush also work.
Is tahini a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: medium
Thick, sticky tahini clings in the mouth and raises choking risk. Thin it with water, yogurt or purée. Do not serve a spoonful of thick tahini.
Tahini is thick and sticks to things. These traits raise the choking risk. Serve it in an age-suited way, thinned and thinly spread. Do not serve a spoonful of tahini alone. Stay within arm's reach during meals and set up a safe space.
Is tahini a common allergen?
Tahini is made from sesame, and sesame is a common allergen. Anaphylaxis from it is common across North Africa and Southwest Asia. In Israel it ranks third among food allergens, and in the US ninth.
To introduce sesame, use ground sesame or tahini. Whole seeds are often not chewed enough, so the proteins never reach your baby. For introduction, tahini from unhulled seeds holds more protein and offers a wider range of allergens.
Allergen label
This food contains sesame.
As with every new allergen, begin with a very small amount. For example, one eighth of a teaspoon stirred into applesauce is enough. If the first servings go well, increase slowly. After the allergen is introduced, it matters to keep it in the diet, twice a week if possible. Keep offering it unless a reaction appears. The goal is not to fill the belly with tahini.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about tahini
Can babies eat hummus?
Yes, once your baby is ready for solids, usually at 6 months. Tahini contains sesame, so sesame allergy should be ruled out first. Serve hummus in a bowl for scooping or spread on bread strips.
Which tahini should I choose?
For allergen introduction, tahini from unhulled sesame holds more protein. Make sure the label lists no honey. Pick pure tahini with no added salt or sugar.
How much tahini should I give?
One eighth of a teaspoon is enough for the first try. Then increase slowly. Keep the allergen in the diet regularly, twice a week if possible.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- NHS. (n.d.). Preparing food safely for babies.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- Türkiye Ulusal Alerji ve Klinik İmmünoloji Derneği. (n.d.). Besin Alerjisi, öncelikli 10 besin.
- Wu MS, Aquino LBB, Barbaza MYU, Hsieh CL, De Castro-Cruz KA, Yang LL, et al. (2019). Anti-Inflammatory and Anticancer Properties of Bioactive Compounds from Sesamum indicum L.—A Review. Molecules. doi:10.3390/molecules24244426
- Adatia A, Clarke A, Yanishevsky Y, Ben-Shoshan M. (2017). Sesame allergy: current perspectives. Journal of Asthma and Allergy. doi:10.2147/JAA.S113612
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