Brazil Nut

Tree Nut

Age Suggestion

12 months

Iron-Rich

Yes

Common Allergen

a pile of brazil nuts before being prepared for babies starting solid food

Warning

Brazil nuts are very high in selenium, a nutrient that is essential but can also cause health problems if consumed in large quantities. The recommended maximum intake of selenium for young children varies by age: the Institute of Medicine lists an upper limit of 60 micrograms per day for 7- to 12-month-old babies and 90 micrograms per day for kids between 1 and 3 years of age. One Brazil nut or 1 teaspoon of Brazil nut butter contains approximately 70-90 micrograms of selenium and when served on occasion, is an excellent way to get all the benefits of this powerful nut without compromising safety.

When can babies have Brazil nuts?

Brazil nuts are best introduced in small amounts after baby’s first birthday. This is because Brazil nuts are an extremely potent source of selenium, an essential nutrient that can be toxic if consumed too frequently or in high quantities.

Brazil nuts may be available worldwide today, but the large seeds have been eaten by Indigenous peoples for thousands of years in South America. Brazil nuts grow in pods on long-living trees that tower over other plants in the rainforests. In fact, these trees are so tall that their nuts—also known as castanha, juvia, nuez amazónica, and pará—can’t be harvested from their branches. Instead, the nuts are retrieved from their pods once they’ve fallen to the ground.

How do you serve Brazil nuts to babies?

Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience.

6 to 11 months old:

Avoid. Brazil nuts contain very high levels of selenium, a mineral that can be toxic when too much of it is consumed. The amount of selenium in one Brazil nut exceeds the total daily recommended amount for babies at this age. So, to minimize the risk of excess selenium intake, wait until 12 months to introduce Brazil nuts.

12 months old +:

Mix up to 1 teaspoon of smooth Brazil nut butter into yogurt, warm cereals, or baked goods, or sprinkle up to one pinch of ground Brazil nut on other dishes and foods. At this age, toddlers often enjoy nut butter on toast. Make sure the nut butter is very thinly spread with no clumps and that you offer milk or water in an open cup to help wash down any sticky pieces of food.

24 months old +:

Continue to serve finely ground Brazil nuts and smooth Brazil nut butter in small quantities. If the child has developed mature eating skills (taking small bites with their teeth, moving food to the side of the mouth when chewing, chewing thoroughly before swallowing, not stuffing food in their mouths, and finally, the ability to identify and spit out foods when it is not well chewed, AND is able to eat softer nuts like walnut and pecans with ease, they may be ready to learn how to eat whole Brazil nuts. Just remember that nuts and nut pieces are considered choking hazards until age 4 and even beyond by all governing medical bodies.

Brazil nuts are particularly risky and challenging to eat as they are firm and difficult to take a bite out of--all of which increases choking risk. We'd recommend starting with other nuts before offering Brazil nuts.

To model how to eat Brazil nuts safely, start by telling your child: "This is a hard one. Watch me." Then, show your toddler how to place the nut in-between your front teeth. Hold the nut between your teeth and exaggerate taking a small bite of the nut. Then, show how you move the nut piece to your molars with your tongue. Chew with your mouth open (you can even demonstrate by opening and closing your hands at the same time). Once you have chewed the nut well, open your mouth to show your toddler how it has been broken down. Say, "I moved it to my big strong teeth to chew it. It needs a lot of chewing." Demonstrate a couple of times before offering your toddler a Brazil nut to do the same.

To coach your child through eating a whole Brazil nut safely, say, "Your turn to try." For the very first attempt, firmly hold on to the nut for your child to take a bite from it (without you letting go of the nut). DO NOT PUT THE NUT IN THEIR MOUTH. Don't let go until they have used their teeth to actively take a bite. This ensures that they initiate chewing. Continue but only serve one or two nuts at a time to pace the practice. If your child insists on holding the Brazil nut themselves, allow them to self-feed and take a bite if you feel comfortable. If you do not feel comfortable or if your child does not bite or attempt to break down the Brazil nut, we recommend coaching the child to spit the nut out and waiting a few weeks more to practice chewing other nuts that are less challenging.

It is important to help your child stay engaged with the task, and part of that is modeling that safe chewing takes place when we are not talking, singing, etc. A highly animated child who is talking, yelling or singing while practicing eating nuts increases choking risk. After practicing nuts with your toddler, make sure their mouth is clear before taking them out of the highchair. Never allow your toddler to walk around with nuts or nut pieces in their mouth.

Videos

Callie, 12 months, eats oatmeal balls with finely ground Brazil nut.

Hawii, 15 months, eats yogurt with finely ground Brazil nut. Note: the nut on the side of the plate is just for visual reference.

Sebastián, 25 months, practices eating a whole Brazil nut with coaching from his father.

Are Brazil nuts a choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Whole nuts, nut pieces, and globs of nut butters are choking hazards for babies and young children. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve Brazil nuts and Brazil nut butter in an age-appropriate way. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals. For more information on choking, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards.

Are Brazil nuts a common allergen?

No, Brazil nut allergy is not a common allergen globally. However, Brazil nut allergy is more prevalent in the United Kingdom and Australia. Brazil nuts are in the tree nut family. While only 0.5 to 1.2% of the population is allergic to tree nuts, it is usually life-long: only 9% of children with a tree nut allergy will outgrow it. Although Brazil nut allergy is not especially common, when it does occur, reactions can be severe.

Although an allergy to one tree nut increases risk of allergy to another, keep in mind that being allergic to one nut does not necessarily mean that all nuts need to be removed from the diet. Having as diverse a diet as possible, even within the confines of food allergies, is important for a child’s nutrition and quality of life. If a child has a Brazil nut allergy, work with an allergist to determine if other tree nuts can be safely incorporated into the diet.

For most babies, there is no need to pursue allergy testing before introducing tree nuts into the diet, even if there is a family history of food allergy. However, if baby has severe eczema or has already experienced an allergic reaction, or you suspect baby may be allergic to nuts, make an appointment with a primary care clinician or a pediatric allergist before introducing Brazil nuts at home. Your doctor can help you determine if Brazil nuts can be safely introduced in the home setting, or if supervised introduction in the clinic would be preferable.

When it is time to introduce the nut, offer a small quantity (such as a pinch of finely ground nut or 1/8 teaspoon of smooth Brazil nut butter thinned with breast milk, formula, or water) at first. If there is no adverse reaction, you can increase the quantity over future meals, being careful not to exceed 1 teaspoon.

Are Brazil nuts healthy for babies?

Yes—in very limited quantities on occasion. While Brazil nuts are packed with nutrients, they contain large amounts of selenium, an essential nutrient that can be toxic if consumed too frequently or in high quantities. Selenium exists in other foods (seafood, meat, dairy, and grains) so consider limiting the serving size to one Brazil nut, and only occasionally.

Worried now? Don’t let the selenium content scare you away from introducing this delicious nut to toddlers. Selenium is an important nutrient and is required to be added to all baby formulas in the United States. Brazil nuts are also loaded with vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant, fiber for healthy digestion, magnesium for cardiovascular and muscle health, and they even contain iron and protein.

★Tip: Like most tree nuts, Brazil nuts can go rancid. Store raw Brazil nuts or open jars of Brazil nut butter in the refrigerator. In the refrigerator or freezer, Brazil nuts can stay good for up to 1 year.

Can babies drink Brazil nut milk?

No. Prior to 12 months, the only liquids an infant should receive are breast milk, formula, and if the baby is older than 6 months of age, water in small amounts (less than 2-4 ounces a day) in an open cup.

If, after the first birthday, you’d like to introduce Brazil nut milk as a beverage, you may do so, but only serve on occasion, due to the nut’s high selenium levels. Also, consider that nut milks often lack adequate calories, fat, and protein for a plant-based milk for toddlers (fortified soy or pea milk are more nutritious). See our Milk FAQs to learn more.