Contrary to common belief, babies need fats: they provide energy and essential fatty acids for development. Olive oil is one of the recommended options, added raw to purées from the start of weaning. Here's how, keeping to paediatric guidance.
- Olive oil can be introduced from the start of weaning, generally around 6 months (per your paediatrician's advice).
- Add it raw, about a teaspoon, to the vegetable purée once cooked.
- It provides energy, unsaturated fatty acids and vitamin E, useful for growth.
- Vary the fats (olive oil, rapeseed/canola oil, a little butter) rather than using only one.
Why add fat to a baby's meals
An infant's brain and body develop fast and need energy and fatty acids. Homemade vegetable purées are low in fat: adding a fat such as olive oil raises the energy content and provides unsaturated fatty acids useful for development.
From what age
Olive oil can be introduced from the start of complementary feeding, often around 6 months, alongside the first vegetables. The exact timing of weaning is individual: follow the recommendations of your paediatrician or your country's health authorities.
How much and how
Add about a teaspoon of raw olive oil to the vegetable purée once it is cooked and cooled to warm. You don't fry baby food: the oil is added cold, at serving time. A smooth texture and a drizzle of oil are enough.
Varying the fats
Guidance advises alternating fat sources: olive oil, rapeseed/canola oil (rich in omega-3), and sometimes a little butter. This variety covers the needs for different fatty acids better than using a single oil.
Frequently asked questions
From what age can you give a baby olive oil?
Generally from the start of weaning, often around 6 months, added raw to purées. The precise timing depends on your child: follow your paediatrician's advice.
How much olive oil for a baby?
About a teaspoon of raw olive oil per vegetable purée is enough. The goal is to enrich the meal with good fats, not to add a lot.
Should olive oil for a baby be cooked?
No. Add it raw to the already-cooked, warm purée at serving time. You don't fry infant meals.
Which oil to choose for baby meals?
Extra virgin olive oil is a good option. Guidance advises varying with rapeseed/canola oil (omega-3) and a little butter, rather than a single fat.
Does olive oil help a baby with constipation?
Do not give olive oil to an infant as a laxative without medical advice. For a baby's constipation, speak to your paediatrician first.
General information, not medical advice. For a health problem, an ongoing treatment or an infant, consult a doctor or pharmacist.