Introducing nuts to your baby feels like a big milestone, and it is! The good news: with the right approach, it can be simple, safe, and honestly, kind of fun. This guide walks you through when to start, how to prepare that first taste, and what to watch for, so you can feel confident at every step.
Why timing matters
Australia has one of the highest rates of food allergy in the world, and one of the best ways to help prevent it is introducing common allergens, including nuts, early. ASCIA (the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy) recommends offering nuts soon after your baby starts solids, once they're showing signs of developmental readiness (usually around 4 to 6 months), rather than waiting until closer to their first birthday. Delaying introduction doesn't reduce the chance of allergy, in fact, the evidence points the other way: early, regular exposure is one of the most effective tools parents have.
Before you start
You don't need to see a doctor first for most babies. The exception is if your baby has moderate to severe eczema, an existing food allergy, or a very close family history of nut allergy, in which case it's worth chatting to your GP, paediatrician or allergist about testing before you begin.
The step-by-step
1. Wait for the readiness signs. Your baby should be able to sit with support, hold their head steady, and show interest in food before starting solids of any kind.
2. Start with a smooth, single-ingredient nut butter. Whole nuts and nut pieces are a choking hazard for babies and young children, so smooth nut butter, paste or finely milled nut is the safest form. Skip added salt, sugar or oil where you can.
3. Pick a calm morning at home. Give the first taste when your baby is happy, well, and not due for a nap. Mornings are ideal because you'll have the rest of the day to watch for any reaction, rather than introducing a new food right before bed.
4. Start small. Try around a quarter teaspoon of nut butter, thinned with breastmilk, formula or water, mixed into a puree or yoghurt your baby already knows well. A completely new food alongside a completely new nut makes it harder to tell what caused any reaction, so keep everything else familiar.
5. Watch and wait. Stay close for a couple of hours after the first taste. Most reactions, if they happen, show up within this window.
6. Build up gradually. If there's no reaction, offer a slightly larger amount next time, working up over the following days to around 2 teaspoons.
7. Keep it up. Once a nut is tolerated, keep it in the regular rotation, at least once a week, ideally twice, to help your baby's body maintain tolerance. A one-off taste doesn't do much on its own.
8. Move to the next nut. Once one nut butter is well tolerated, you can start the next, following the same process. If your baby handles cashew well, pistachio often needs less caution (they're in the same family), and the same goes for walnut and pecan, though it's still worth introducing each one and watching the first time.
What a reaction can look like
Mild signs include a rash around the mouth or chin, hives, or an upset tummy. These usually settle on their own, though it's worth mentioning to your GP before offering the food again. More serious signs, including swelling of the lips, face or eyes, a hoarse voice or persistent cough, vomiting, paleness or floppiness, or difficulty breathing, need urgent medical attention.
This article is general information only, not medical advice. If your baby has severe eczema, an existing food allergy, or you're unsure how to safely start, speak with your GP, paediatrician or allergist before you begin. If you notice any signs of a serious reaction, call 000 immediately.
Common questions
Do I need to introduce nuts in a specific order? No. There's no medically required order, most families start with whichever nut is easiest to prepare or already in the pantry.
Can I introduce more than one nut at once? It's best to introduce one at a time, a few days apart, so if a reaction does happen, you know exactly what caused it.
What if my baby doesn't like the taste? That's normal and not a reaction. Try mixing it into a food they already love, or try again another day. Taste and texture preferences are separate from allergy.
What if we miss a week? Don't stress about being exact, just aim to keep previously introduced nuts in the regular rotation as best you can.
Making it easy, one jar at a time
This is exactly why we make Willow Tree Foods nut butters the way we do: 100% roasted nuts, finely milled, with no added salt, sugar or oil. Each 40g jar is a single nut, so you can introduce one at a time, at your own pace, and know exactly what's in it. New to nuts? The Nut Butter Starter Pack brings together all nine in one go.