How to give baby eggs for the first time

Every parent wants to ensure their child will grow healthily and happily. But parenthood can be overwhelming, with conflicting advice on what is and isn’t good for babies. 

There are a lot of myths and misunderstanding about whether babies can eat eggs and at what age parents should start feeding them whole eggs. 

Eggs are a great contributor of essential nutrients to a child’s healthy development. Not only are they packed with vitamins and minerals but they also provide a good source of quality protein, choline, and essential fatty acids. Read on for the most up-to-date guidelines and recommendations.

When to Give Eggs to Your Baby

It is recommended to introduce well cooked whole egg into your child’s diet in the first year of their life - around six months of age, but not before four months. 

These guidelines are the same for all babies, even those with a high risk of developing food allergies, such as those with a family history of egg allergy or those with eczema. Studies have shown that introducing eggs within the first year helps children to develop a tolerance to eggs and may reduce the risk of allergy. Delayed introduction of egg and other food allergens has been shown to increase the chance of developing food allergy.

When first introducing eggs make sure they are well cooked, start off with small amounts (such as ¼ teaspoon mixed in with usual foods) and offer to your child twice a week. 

The Benefits of Eggs in Your Child’s Diet

Packed with nutrients, including 13 different vitamins and minerals, eggs can make a valuable contribution to your child’s nutritional needs. Combine that with the fact that they’re affordable and easy to prepare and you’ve got the perfect meal option for busy parents. 

Eggs contain choline - a nutrient that contributes to healthy brain development, among other things. Studies show that pregnant and breastfeeding women who eat eggs are more likely to get enough choline from their diet. To find out more about eggs and pregnancy click here.

Eggs provide iodine, iron, quality protein, omega-3 fat, and vitamins A, D, E, and B12. Eaten as a high-protein breakfast, they can boost a child’s satiety levels and reduce hunger throughout the busy school day, which can help with concentration and energy levels and reduce the need for extra snacks.

Being high in protein and other essential nutrients, eggs help support a child’s growth and development. The Australian dietary guidelines recommend children aged 1-3 years consume around 14g of protein per day and around 20g a day for children 4-8 years. A single egg contains just over 6g of protein which provides almost half the recommended dietary intake for toddlers and almost a third of the recommended dietary intake for older children. 

Egg Allergies in Infants and Children

Egg allergies are not uncommon in children, affecting 9% of kids under 4 years old. Many children with egg allergies are allergic to raw egg but can tolerate baked or cooked eggs, and most will outgrow the allergy by the age of four. 

Egg allergy symptoms may include:

• Skin - hives, eczema, swelling, or flushing.

• Digestive - nausea, vomiting, or diarrhoea.

• Respiratory - a running nose, wheezing, or trouble breathing.

• Cardiovascular - a rapid heartbeat or low blood pressure.

While research continues to understand treatment options for children with egg allergy, dietary avoidance of all eggs is recommended. Some children with egg allergy will tolerate some egg baked into cake and biscuits, but this should only be tried with specialist medical advice.

Eggs are an important part of a balanced diet at all stages of life. If your child could be allergic, we encourage you to start a dialogue with your healthcare professional to discuss possible solutions to ensure your child meets their dietary needs. 

Find out more about egg allergies in children today.

How to Serve Eggs to Your Child

It is recommended to introduce well cooked whole egg in the first year of your child’s life. Start with small amounts and introduce twice a week to help your child get used to it. You can do this by:

• Pureeing or mashing a hard-boiled or scrambled egg, ensuring the texture is appropriate for your child’s stage of development.  

• Avoid adding salt or other condiments and keep eggs plain to start with.

For older babies, hard-boiled eggs make great finger food as they are easily cut into bite-sized pieces.

Learn More About the Role of Eggs in Diet

Australian Eggs aims to help people better understand the role that eggs can play in a healthy diet. Find out more about the role of eggs in nutrition today.

Eggs for Babies – 10 Easy (and Delicious) Ways! Eggs are a nutrient-dense superfood and great first food for baby. Serve them as a baby food puree, mashed, as finger food, or for baby-led weaning, and more! These recipes are great for 4-6 months and up.

Medically reviewed by Sarah Remmer, Registered Dietitian (RD) & Founder, Centre for Family Nutrition.

Eggs are loaded with essential nutrients for a growing baby and are one of my favorite first foods for babies! 🥚

This guide will give you 10 easy-peasy ways to incorporate eggs into your baby’s diet. It’s important to serve your babies eggs that are well-cooked, but there are many ways you can serve them! Whether you are starting with purees or doing baby-led weaning, I’ve got you covered. 👊 You can serve eggs cooked and blended into a baby puree, smashed with avocado on toast (and cut into strips), cooked several different ways for finger food for baby-led weaning, made into 3-ingredient pancakes, or even made into egg muffins. How egg-citing!

First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depth Guide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food – which goes over all the important information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, how to know when baby is ready for solids, how to introduce purees, the best first foods for baby, and more! If you are doing Baby-Led Weaning, then be sure to check out my Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning – which covers what exactly is baby-led weaning, to every parent’s concern of baby-led weaning and choking, this guide goes over it all. I will also share how to know when baby is ready for BLW, the top 10 best first foods, a helpful sample blw feeding schedule, helpful tools to have on hand, and much much more!

Want more information? Then make sure to check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes!

Watch this video to see how to make and serve eggs to your baby!

Reasons to Love Eggs for Baby

• relatively inexpensive
• easy to find
• great source of protein
• nutrient-packed
• great for first food – 4-6+ months
• perfect for baby-led weaning
• versatile

Eggs are an ideal first food for babies because they are loaded with essential nutrients vital for your baby’s growth and development, including protein, selenium, phosphorus, riboflavin, and vitamins A, D, and B12. They also contain lutein and zeaxanthin, which both promote healthy vision.

Make sure you serve the entire egg (yolk and white!), as most of the nutrition is found in the yolk. The yolk and whites of the egg contain different sets of nutrients, so it is significant to incorporate both into your baby’s diet. 

• Protein-rich — each large egg contains over 6 grams of protein
• Great source of Omega-3 fatty acids, which help build a healthy heart and are crucial for brain, nerve, and eye development
• High in choline, which is an important micronutrient that is beneficial for the brain and nervous system 
• Great source of lutein and zeaxanthin, which are great for overall eye health

How to Cook Eggs

Eggs are a versatile protein to work with, and there are dozens of ways to cook and serve them to your baby. Below you will find the top 10 ways I like to serve eggs to baby, but if you have another method you love, then, by all means, have at it. The good news is because there are a variety of ways to cook and serve eggs, your baby will have many opportunities to try them.

Here are some of the ways to serve eggs to your baby (recipes below):

• pureed with your favorite fruit or veggie
• hard-boiled
• mashed with yogurt
• served on toast
• scrambled
• baked into an egg muffin
• made into pancakes
• as an egg roll-up

When to Introduce Egg for Baby

Whether you’re starting your baby on purees or are doing baby-led weaning, eggs are a delightful first food for your baby! When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age. Some of the developmental milestones babies need to reach in order to start solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start your baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.

Tip: While it’s great (and safe!) to serve your baby the entire egg, you could try serving the yolk only for the first couple of feedings, as it is creamier and easier for your baby to eat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can baby have the egg whites and yolk?

Yes! Current recommendations advise serving baby both the egg white and yolk from the very beginning.

How many eggs can a baby eat per day?

One egg a day is an effortless and budget-friendly way to give your baby key nutrients for optimal growth. There are no guidelines regarding the maximum number of eggs a baby or toddler can have a day. But remember that exposing your baby to various fresh fruits, vegetables, proteins, and carbs is the goal for the first year of your baby’s life.

Are eggs a common allergy?

Eggs can be a potential allergen, so it is always best to consult with your pediatrician if you have any major concerns or if anyone in the immediate family has known egg allergies. After a meal, if you notice any allergy-related symptoms such as like hives, itching, swelling, or upset stomach, you should stop serving eggs and consult with your doctor. Otherwise, you can feel safe about serving eggs to your baby and can dig right in.

How do you introduce eggs to your baby?

If you are starting with purees, you can blend (or mash with a fork) a hard-boiled egg with a bit of breast milk or formula until you reach the desired consistency. If you’d rather baby self-feed, you can mash a hard-boiled egg yolk with a fork and mix it with a little whole milk plain yogurt and serve it to your baby with a self-feeding spoon. You can also scramble an egg and place them on your baby’s tray so they can self-feed with their hands.

Eggs for Baby-Led Weaning

Eggs are absolutely perfect for baby-led weaning. They’re soft for babies to eat (with or without teeth) and easy for them to grab onto using either their pincer grasp (fingers) or palmer grasp (hand). Some of my favorite ways to serve eggs to babies for baby-led weaning are mashed with yogurt handed to baby on a self-feeding spoon, mashed with avocado and served on toast, hard-boiled and served in strips or chunks, scrambled, made into egg roll-ups, pancakes, or egg cups. There are so many fun ways for your baby to explore the taste of eggs all by themselves!

Eggs for Toddlers

Eggs are still a great source of complete protein and other nutrients for toddlers and kids! While toddlers may turn their noses up to eggs at some point (this is normal and can happen with any food!), it’s still a good idea to keep reintroducing eggs without pressure and in various ways, as they’ll likely come back to it!

Spice Tip: Feel free to spice up your eggs by adding chopped herbs or mild spices. However, salt is not recommended until after 1 year. Some great additions are chives, basil, oregano, cilantro, cumin, mild paprika, or curry powder.

One of the easiest ways to incorporate eggs into a baby food puree is by simply blending the egg yolk with one of your baby’s favorite cooked fruits or vegetables. This puree is made with softened mango (recipe below). You can also easily add eggs into these amazing purees: sweet potato, carrot, broccoli, homemade baby cereal, green bean, apple, or pear puree.

This is a pretty simple recipe that you can spoonfeed to your baby or preload on a self-feeding spoon and hand to your baby so they can feed themselves.

For this recipe, you can either use just the yolk or the entire egg for a chunkier puree. We start by mashing half of a hard-boiled egg with yogurt to get an appetizing, creamy texture. You can also mash the hard-boiled egg with a few white beans, soft tofu, chicken, or any thick puree you have on hand. If the mixture is too thick, you may need to add a few drops of breast milk, formula, or water.

Scrambled Eggs

Want to save time and effort? Go for scrambled eggs! They’re easy to make and can be enjoyed both by you and your little one. These scrambled eggs are fluffy and soft yet firm enough for your baby to hold.

✔ Get the full recipe below or read the full post here.

Egg and Avocado on Toast

You might as well start them out early with an avocado toast addiction. 😉 Made with two nutrient-dense ingredients — avocados and eggs — this healthy, easy spread on a piece of multi-grain toast is going to be a hit with your baby.

To make, mash together with a wedge of avocado and half of a hard-boiled egg yolk (you can also use the entire egg) and spoon onto a piece of toast that you’ve pre-cut into strips. Hand the dry side of the toast to your baby to try to keep the mess down and for an easier grip.

Mix Things Up: Feel free to use a bit of whole milk yogurt, white beans, tofu, goat cheese, banana, or ricotta in this recipe instead of the avocado.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

Hard-boiled eggs are a simple way to serve eggs to your baby. You can cut them into chunks or long strips for your baby to pick up with their pincer grasp.

Easy Banana Egg Pancakes

These pancakes are an easy 3-ingredient recipe that will make any baby an egg lover! Because of the sweet banana, the egg gets disguised, and your baby will never be able to tell they are eating eggs. These pancakes can also serve as a hassle-free, on-the-go meal or snack for your baby or toddler.

✔ Get the full recipe below or read the full post here.

Egg Roll-ups

These egg roll-ups are ideal for babies and toddlers that are just learning to self-feed. The egg roll-ups are firm enough to be held by your baby but soft enough to be eaten, even if your baby has no teeth yet. 🙂 With only 3 ingredients and a preparation time of 5 minutes, these egg roll-ups will surely become a new family favorite!

✔ Get the full recipe below or read the full post here.

Egg + Broccoli Muffins

Egg muffins are a wonderful food prep item that both you and your baby can enjoy. This recipe is loaded with broccoli and cheese for an extra flavorful breakfast!

✔ Get the full recipe below or read the full post here. You can find 4 more amazingly delicious flavors here.

Storage

You can store all of the egg recipes below in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. However, the Avocado and Egg Toast recipe is best eaten right away.

Or watch a shortened version of this video here.

Egg with Mango Puree

• 1 large egg yolk, cooked (hard-boiled or scrambled are best)
• 1 cup ripe mango, fresh or frozen, if using frozen thaw first

Mashed Egg and Yogurt

• 1/2 large hard-boiled egg yolk
• 1 tbsp plain yogurt, 2% or whole milk

Scrambled Eggs

• 2 large eggs
• 2 tsp plain Greek yogurt, 2% or whole milk
• 1-2 tsp butter

Egg and Avocado on Toast

• 1/8 avocado, peeled
• 1/2 large hard-boiled egg, can use just the yolk or entire egg
• 1 piece wholegrain bread, toasted and cut into strips

Hard-Boiled Eggs

• 1 large hard-boiled egg, peeled

Banana + Egg Pancakes

• 1 medium banana, with a few brown spots
• 1 large egg
• 2 tbsp flour, all-purpose, white whole wheat or whole wheat
• pinch cinnamon

Egg Roll-Ups

• 2 large eggs
• 1 tbsp milk
• 2 tbsp cheddar cheese, shredded (optional)
• 1 tsp oil, butter or spray

Broccoli Egg Cups

• 6 large eggs
• 1/4 cup milk, regular, almond, coconut, oat, etc
• 1/2 cup broccoli, finely chopped
• 1/2 cup cheddar cheese, shredded

Egg with Mango Puree

• In a blender or food processor, add the cooked egg yolk and mango. Starting on low and increasing to high, blend the ingredients until smooth and creamy.

Mashed Egg and Yogurt

• On a cutting board, place the hard-boiled egg yolk and the yogurt. Using the back of a fork, mash the two together until completely incorporated. You can leave it chunky or mash until smooth. Serve with a baby spoon or a self-feeding spoon for baby-led weaning.

Scrambled Eggs

• In a small bowl, add in the eggs and yogurt. Going in only one direction, whisk the mixture with a fork. Heat a medium skillet over medium-low heat. Add in butter and let it melt. When it is bubbling, add in the whisked eggs and let the eggs cook for 15 seconds, then using a spatula or wooden spoon, gently fold the eggs from the outside of the skillet towards the middle. The uncooked eggs will go where the spatula was and the cooked eggs will go towards the center. Continue with this motion until most of the eggs are in the middle. Gently fold the pile over itself until you have soft yet firm eggs. You want the eggs firm enough to be able to be picked up by your baby.

Egg and Avocado on Toast

• On a cutting board, place the hard-boiled egg or just the yolk and avocado. Using the back of a fork, mash the two together until completely incorporated. You can leave chunky or smooth depending on preference. Scoop the mixture up with the fork and place on the end of a piece of toast. Hand baby the dry side of the toast.

Hard-Boiled Eggs

• Place the peeled hard-boiled egg on a cutting board and cut into strips or chunks for baby.

Banana + Egg Pancakes

• In a medium bowl, mash the banana until very smooth with only a few lumps. Add in the flour, egg and a pinch of cinnamon (optional). Mix with a fork or whisk, mix until everything is combined. Heat a medium skillet over medium heat, spray with cooking spray or add a little butter, if needed. Drop one tablespoon of batter on the skillet and let cook for 3-4 minutes or until the sides are starting to become firm and the bottoms are golden brown. You will not see any bubbles like traditional pancakes. Flip and cook for another 2-3 minutes or until golden brown. 

Egg Roll-Ups

• Preheat a small non-stick pan over medium-low heat. Spray the skillet or grease with 1/2 teaspoon of oil or butter. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together. Spoon half of the egg mixture into the pan and cook for 2 minutes. Sprinkle the cheese on top of the eggs (if using), cover the pan with a lid, and cook for 2 more minutes. Using a spatula, carefully slid the flat egg onto a cutting board. Let cool slightly for 1-2 minutes but no more or the egg will be too cool to roll. Starting on one side of the egg disc, start rolling the egg as tightly as you can until completely rolled up. Place seam side down and let cool slightly. As it cools, the egg roll-up will hold it’s shaped. Repeat the cooking process with the remaining egg mixture. Cut one egg roll in half and serve to baby.

Broccoli Egg Cups

• Heat oven to 375 degrees. Line 8 muffin tins with silicone muffin molds or generously spray to prevent sticking. In a medium bowl, whisk the eggs and milk together. Add in the broccoli and cheese and stir until combined. Pour the egg mixture into the muffin tins until 3/4 the way full. Bake for 20-25 minutes or until eggs have set and the cheese is golden brown. You can also try these other 4 fun flavors of Egg Muffins.

Age: 4-6+ months for egg puree, 6+ months for finger foods Storage: the Egg with Mango Puree, Mashed Egg and Yogurt, Scrambled Eggs, Hard-Boiled Eggs, Banana + Egg Pancakes, Egg Roll-Ups and Broccoli Egg Cups can be stored in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. The Egg and Avocado on Toast is best eaten right away.