Scrambled eggs are a nutritious food that many enjoy for breakfast. However, when can your baby have them too? Let’s talk about it!
Overall, scrambled eggs are safe for your baby once they are at least six months old. Ensure the eggs are fully-cooked and pasteurized to reduce the risk of foodborne illness.
Let’s dive into more information regarding giving your baby scrambled eggs, including the timeline, choking risk, and potential for an allergic reaction. Read on to learn more!
Covered in this Article:
Is Scrambled Egg Safe for Babies?
Scrambled eggs are safe for babies if they are pasteurized and cooked thoroughly. Undercooked or raw eggs are risky because they can contain dangerous bacteria, such as salmonella.
Eggs should be cooked until they are firm and heated to at least 160 degrees Fahrenheit (source: U.S. Food and Drug Administration [FDA]).
Additionally, eggs are often served with additives such as salt, pepper, butter, and cream. When preparing eggs for your baby, these additions are unnecessary, so it is best to leave them out and just provide the eggs.
Finally, it is essential to note that the Lion Mark variety of eggs in the U.K. are unique in that they are safe to consume without fully cooking them. The hens that produce these eggs are vaccinated against salmonella (source: British Lion Eggs).
However, the eggs available in the United States must be pasteurized and fully cooked.
Can Babies Have Scrambled Egg with Milk or Formula?
Babies can have scrambled eggs with milk or formula mixed in.
You may want to add milk or formula to your baby’s scrambled eggs to make them creamier and moister for the baby to eat. While the baby should not have cow’s milk to drink before age one, it is considered acceptable for a younger baby to have small amounts of cow’s milk in cooking or food preparation (source: Cleveland Clinic).
If they are very young, likely under six months, mix in the baby formula instead.
When Can Babies Eat Scrambled Eggs?
Your baby can generally eat scrambled eggs once they are six months old, as long as the eggs are in the appropriate textures. Let’s cover this more in-depth in table format (source: University of Illinois).
| Age in Months | Can Your Baby Eat Scrambled Eggs |
| 6 | Yes, pureed with a thinner and watery consistency |
| 7 | Yes, pureed with a mashed consistency |
| 8 | Yes, small bite-sized pieces |
| 9 | Yes, small bite-sized pieces |
| 10 | Yes, small bite-sized pieces |
| 11 | Yes, small bite-sized pieces |
| 12 | Yes, small bite-sized pieces |
Add a liquid, such as water, formula, or a bit of cow’s milk, to your baby’s eggs to make them softer and less dry.
When serving eggs on toast, wait until the finger food stage, from eight to twelve months, and chop the eggs and toast into bite-sized pieces. Ensure the toast is not overcooked because it will become too hard and tough.
Eggs can be an excellent food for baby-led weaning as they can pick up and grasp the foods themself.
Can Babies Eat Scrambled Eggs Without Teeth?
Babies can eat scrambled eggs without teeth as long as they are pureed and mashed.
Since most babies begin teething around four to seven months of age, they should have some teeth by the time they start consuming bite-sized pieces of egg (source: CHOC). However, the age when teething begins can vary for different babies.
Therefore, ensure that if your baby does not have teeth, they have soft eggs that are more mashed in texture.
Are Scrambled Eggs a Choking Risk for Babies?
Scrambled eggs can be a choking hazard for your baby if not prepared at the appropriate consistency for their age. For example, as mentioned in the table above, if your baby is six months, the eggs should be thoroughly cooked and then pureed to a smooth liquid texture.
Once they are older, around eight to twelve months, they can have bite-sized pieces of soft scrambled eggs. Since the eggs are soft, they are unlikely to cause choking.
Can Babies Be Allergic to Scrambled Egg?
Since egg is a common allergen for kids and adults, it is possible your baby can be allergic to scrambled eggs. However, rather than being worried, it is simply important to be alert to any signs of an allergic reaction.
Thankfully, there is no reason to avoid giving eggs to your baby because of allergy risk. In fact, researchers have found that babies who are introduced to eggs early, such as six months old, have decreased rates of egg allergy (source: Nutrients).
When introducing any new foods to your baby (but especially those that are at an increased risk of causing an allergic reaction), give a new food with a few days in between and monitor for symptoms.
Spacing out the introduction of new foods is essential because you would know which new food your baby is allergic to if an allergic reaction occurs.
Signs and symptoms of a food allergy in your baby include hives, swelling, wheezing, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, paleness, and more (source: American Academy of Pediatrics). If you notice multiple symptoms, seek medical attention immediately.
In conclusion, I hope this article served as a helpful guide to feeding your baby scrambled eggs and how to introduce them safely.
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