When Can My Baby Eat Scrambled Eggs?

By
Vincent Iannelli, MD

Vincent Iannelli, MD, is a board-certified pediatrician and fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Iannelli has cared for children for more than 20 years.

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Vincent Iannelli, MD
Medically reviewed by
Medically reviewed by Paul A. Rufo, MD, MMSc on March 16, 2020

Paul A. Rufo, MD, MMSc, is an assistant professor of pediatrics and senior investigator in the Center for Inflammatory Bowel Disease at Boston Children's Hospital.

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Paul A. Rufo, MD, MMSc
Updated on March 16, 2020
An infant eating breakfast with his family
Can you feed your baby eggs?. Jon Feingersh/Getty Images

Twenty years ago, most physicians would have recommended not giving whole eggs to children under the age of 12 months due to a perceived risk of developing food allergies from exposure to the proteins in egg whites. However, it was usually considered okay to give them egg yolks once they were seven to 10 months old.

That advice has changed greatly now, as it didn't really prevent food allergies from developing in kids.

New Advice About Eating Eggs

In 2008, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) revised the previous recommendations, stating that infants could begin consuming foods in addition to breastmilk or formula after 6 months of age.

They also stated that there was no conclusive evidence to support the theory that delayed introduction of solid food beyond four to six months of age would have a significant protective effect on the development of atopic disease.

Doctors continue to recommend that parents be wary of foods on which children could choke, as well as avoid honey in infants under 12 months of age, due to their potential vulnerability to botulism. Physicians no longer recommended avoiding eggs and other potentially allergic foods in the diets of babies and toddlers.

So yes, you can feed your 11-month-old scrambled eggs and you can even use the egg yolks (and some formula, cheese, and butter of course).

Because of the risk of food poisoning from Salmonella, be sure to cook the eggs thoroughly.

Eggs for Your Baby

You don't necessarily have to be in a big rush to give eggs and egg yolks, though. Rather than eggs, the AAP recommends certain meats, vegetables and iron-fortified cereals to increase iron levels.

On the other hand, egg yolks can be a good source of DHA, an important component of breast milk, which is now being added to infant formulas and baby food to promote a baby's growth and brain development.

Eggs are also a good source of protein and many vitamins and minerals.

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  1. Greer FR, Sicherer SH, Burks AW. The effects of early nutritional interventions on the development of atopic disease in infants and children: The role of maternal dietary restriction, breastfeeding, hydrolyzed formulas, and timing of introduction of allergenic complementary foods. Pediatrics. 2019;143(4). doi:10.1542/peds.2019-0281

  2. American Academy of Pediatrics. Starting solid foods. Updated January 16, 2018.

  3. Echeverría F, Valenzuela R, Catalina Hernandez-Rodas M, Valenzuela A. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), a fundamental fatty acid for the brain: New dietary sources. Prostaglandins Leukot Essent Fatty Acids. 2017;124:1-10. doi:10.1016/j.plefa.2017.08.001

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