Babies, shellfish and crustaceans

Does seafood have a place in your baby's diet? It's a question every shrimp lover has asked themselves at some point. Rest assured, the answer is yes! Cooking methods, portion sizes, recommendations: let's explore crustaceans, shellfish, and mollusks as a family!

Seafood and food diversification: when and how to offer it to baby?

Before diving headfirst into baby food, we decided to take a quick look at seafood! Because behind this generic name, there are actually several families of pretty little creatures that live in the ocean.

• Crustaceans: crab, lobster, spiny lobster, langoustine, shrimp…

• Shellfish: oyster, mussel, whelk, abalone, scallop…

• Molluscs: cuttlefish, squid, octopus

And the sea urchins

No fish in sight? Well, think again: when we talk about seafood, we're referring to all marine animal species except fish! And if you'd like to know which fish are suitable for toddlers, we explain everything in our baby fish guide !

What are the benefits of seafood for babies?

Protein intake

Seafood provides very high-quality animal protein, essential for a child's growth and muscle development. Fish and seafood provide essential proteins for building and maintaining tissues (muscles, bones, etc.).¹

Omega-3 intake

Some seafood is rich in omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (EPA/DHA), lipids beneficial for a child's brain and visual development.² The French National Nutrition and Health Program (PNNS, via ANSES guidelines) recommends consuming two portions of fish per week, one of which should be rich in omega-3, to safely obtain these nutrients.³

Mineral intake: iodine, zinc, selenium…

Iodine: Crustaceans and molluscs are among the sources of iodine mentioned by ANSES. This trace element is crucial for thyroid and brain development.⁴

Zinc: Found in seafood, it plays a major role in the immune system, growth, and wound healing.⁵

Selenium: This antioxidant trace element, also found in seafood, contributes to the body's defense.⁶

At what age can a baby start eating seafood?

Do you love shrimp and whelks but hesitate to offer them to your baby? According to the new PNNS⁷ recommendations on introducing solid foods, it's possible to start seafood as early as 4 months, provided it's thoroughly cooked! So you can prepare mussels, whelks, and scallops for your baby tonight.

However, for raw or smoked seafood, a little patience is required! Raw seafood is not recommended before the age of 5⁸. To introduce babies to seafood, as with any other food, adopt a gradual approach. Don't start with a "royal platter" or a pot of mussels and fries! Begin gently with a single type of seafood in small quantities. The gradual introduction of new foods is essential to allow the child time to become familiar with new tastes and to detect any potential allergic reactions .

What are the signs of a food allergy in a baby?

For many parents, seafood is synonymous with food allergies. It's true that this food group can trigger allergic reactions… But rest assured, they are far from inevitable. Before embarking on this great underwater adventure, don't hesitate to discuss it with your pediatrician: they will give you their opinion and certainly some tips based on your baby's development, needs, and any family history. For our part, the best advice we can give you is to keep a close eye on things when you first introduce your child to a crumb of lobster or a small piece of scallop. The good news is that in most cases, a food allergy is obvious! Our second piece of advice is to introduce only one allergen at a time: that way, if there is a reaction, at least you'll know which food to blame.

How long does it take for an allergic reaction to appear?

When introducing a new food to a baby (shrimp, shellfish, scallops, etc.), if the baby has a food allergy, the signs usually appear very quickly. In the vast majority of cases, a food allergy appears between a few minutes and 2 hours after eating.⁹

What to look out for to detect a food allergy in a baby:

Is your baby all smiles? > Bingo, they love this new taste!

Redness or bumps appear on the body, and the child scratches. This could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

• If their face, lips, or tongue swells, this could be a sign of an allergic reaction.

Is he vomiting or has diarrhea? > This could be a sign of an allergic reaction

He is having difficulty breathing > This could be a sign of an allergic reaction

• Does he start crying or suddenly become very irritable? > This could be a sign of an allergic reaction

If you have any doubts, contact a healthcare professional.

How to safely prepare seafood for babies?

Cooking, texture, quantity: like all other foods that you are about to introduce to your baby, some precautions are necessary.

The shrimp.

It is important to offer your child well-cooked and peeled shrimp. Why not mashed or in the form of a rillette?

Plenty of shrimp, but not too much. Go easy on the quantity! With foods known to be allergenic or not, baby needs time to adjust.

If your child has tasted their first shrimp without any problems, then you can prepare them again for several days, slightly increasing the quantity. The idea is for your baby to gradually get used to the allergen and for you to easily observe their tolerance (or any potential allergy). If any sign of intolerance appears, stop giving them shrimp immediately and consult your pediatrician.

The mussel.

It is perfectly possible to introduce mussels into your baby's diet, but always with caution. Mussels are rich in protein, iodine, zinc, and selenium—essential nutrients for growth, brain development, and the immune system. ¹⁰

To prepare them, cook them thoroughly until they open and remove any hard or stringy parts. You can then shell the flesh and mash it, or lightly blend it to obtain a texture suitable for baby.

Start with a small amount and carefully observe your child's tolerance for several hours after administration.

Scallops

Scallops are also an excellent seafood for babies, rich in quality protein and essential minerals.

They must be thoroughly cooked (poached or lightly seared) and cut or mashed to avoid any risk of choking. Introduce them gradually, in small quantities, over several days, so that your baby can slowly get used to this food and you can watch for any signs of allergy. If redness, vomiting, coughing, or swelling occurs, stop feeding the food immediately and contact your pediatrician.

Need a little help?

As luck would have it, Good Goût has created recipes that actually contain allergens. Yes, we've deliberately included small amounts of shrimp and cashews in two dishes that will reassure parents and prepare babies for allergies. A great idea, isn't it?