Hazelnut (Filbert)

Tree Nut

Age Suggestion

6 months

Iron-Rich

Yes

Common Allergen

Yes

When can babies have hazelnuts?

Hazelnuts, if they are finely ground or served as hazelnut butter, may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Whole hazelnuts, chopped hazelnuts, and hazelnut butter are choking hazards for babies, so read our preparation by age section closely before serving.

Also known as cobnut, filbert, fındık, noisette, and nocciola, hazelnuts grow in the wild and on farms throughout much of the northern hemisphere, from North America to Europe and Asia. Excavations have uncovered pits of hazelnut shells from ancient dwelling sites, suggesting that humans have been enjoying the sweet, creamy nut for thousands of years.

How do you serve hazelnuts 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 months old +:

Grind hazelnuts in a food processor until completely fine and no large pieces remain. If you do not have a food processor, you can pound the nuts in a cloth with a hammer, a mortar and pestle, or the end of a wine bottle. To serve the ground nut, sprinkle a small amount on yogurt, rice, quinoa, squash, or warm cereal. You can also roll slippery foods like sliced fruit in the ground nut, which adds texture that makes it easier for baby to pick up. If you’d like to make a baby-friendly nut butter, keep the food processor going until the nuts form a paste, then add water, yogurt, or a baby-friendly liquid to thin it into a non-sticky, smooth spread with no clumps. This can be spread very thinly on other age-appropriate foods.

12 months old +:

Continue to finely grind hazelnuts and sprinkle on fruits and vegetables or to incorporate hazelnut butter into other foods such as yogurt and warm cereals, or thinly spread on toast. At this age, you may also introduce hazelnut milk as an occasional drink.

36 months old +:

Continue to serve finely ground hazelnuts and use hazelnut butter as you wish. If a 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 hazelnuts. Just remember that nuts and nut pieces are considered choking hazards until age 4 and even beyond by all governing medical bodies.

Hazelnuts are particularly risky and challenging to eat as they are firm, difficult to take a bite out of, and are small and round. We'd recommend starting with other nuts before offering hazelnuts.

To model how to eat hazelnuts safely, start by telling the child: "This is a hard one. Watch me." Then, show the toddler how to place the hazelnut in-between your front teeth. Hold the nut between your teeth and exaggerate moving the nut 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 the 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 the child a hazelnut to do the same.

To coach a child through eating a whole hazelnut safely, say, "Your turn to try." DO NOT PUT THE NUT IN THEIR MOUTH. If the child takes a bite and chews thoroughly (they may spit the nut out for many months as they get used to the texture), offer one or two more nuts at a time (but never more) to keep the pace slow. If the child does not use their teeth to bite or attempt to move the nut to the molars to break it down, 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 a 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 a toddler, make sure their mouth is clear before taking them out of the high chair. Never allow a toddler to walk around with nuts or nut pieces in their mouth.

Take the guesswork out of introducing common allergens by watching our video, Introducing Allergens.

Videos

Eunoia, 6 months, eats finely ground hazelnut and mashed fig stirred into yogurt.

Cooper, 11 months, eats stewed pear with finely ground hazelnuts on top.

Amelia, 11 months, eats yogurt with finely ground hazelnuts on top.

Are hazelnuts 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 hazelnuts and hazelnut 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 hazelnuts a common allergen?

Yes, hazelnuts are classified as a Global Priority Allergen by the World Health Organization. Reactions to hazelnut can range from mild oral itching to severe systemic reactions (anaphylaxis) - interestingly, more severe reactions to hazelnut ingestion are noted in areas of the world where birch trees are not native, such as Southern Europe. Severe reactions to hazelnut are also more common in children under 5 years of age, who are more likely than adults to have primary sensitization to hazelnut (while Oral Allergy Syndrome is more common in adults). While only 0.5 to 1.2% of the population is allergic to tree nuts, tree nut allergy is usually life-long: only 9% of children with a tree nut allergy will outgrow it.

Hazelnuts are a common cause of Oral Allergy Syndrome, especially in individuals who are allergic to birch, hazel, or alder tree pollen. Oral Allergy Syndrome to hazelnut typically results in short-lived itching, tingling, or burning in the mouth and is unlikely to result in a dangerous reaction.

Due to similarities in the nuts’ protein structure, individuals who are allergic to hazelnut may have cross-reactive allergy with peanut and a number of other tree nuts. However, this 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 your child has a hazelnut 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 your baby may be allergic to nuts, make an appointment with your primary care clinician or a pediatric allergist before introducing hazelnut at home. Your doctor can help you determine if hazelnuts can be safely introduced in the home setting, or if supervised introduction in the clinic would be preferable. Keep in mind that a growing body of evidence supports the preventive benefits of early food allergen introduction (especially for babies with eczema), so it’s important not to delay introduction any longer than necessary.

When it’s time to introduce the nut at home, offer a small quantity (such as a pinch of finely ground nut or 1/8 teaspoon of smooth hazelnut butter thinned with water, breast milk, or formula) at first. If there is no adverse reaction, you can increase the quantity over future meals. It is okay if your baby does not consume each serving entirely. Rather than filling the belly with the nut, it is important to maintain exposure to common food allergens (such as tree nuts) in the diet regularly (twice weekly, if possible) once introduced. Don’t stop offering the nut unless your baby shows signs of a reaction.

Recommended Guide: Introducing Allergens

Are hazelnuts healthy for babies?

Yes. Hazelnuts are a rich source of vitamin E, healthy fats, and fiber, which are important nutrients to develop and maintain baby’s brain, heart, immune system, and digestion. Nuts in general are an excellent source of iron and protein, making them a particularly healthful food for babies on plant-based diets. Lastly, hazelnuts contain vitamin K, a nutrient that is essential for blood clotting.

★Tip: Like most tree nuts, hazelnuts can go rancid. Hazelnuts can stay fresh in the refrigerator for up to 1 year and in the freezer for up to 2 years.

Can babies drink hazelnut milk?

No. Prior to 12 months, the only liquids an infant should consume are breast milk, formula, and, if the baby is older than 6 months of age, water in small amounts (less than 2-4 ounces / 60-120 milliliters a day) in an open cup. If hazelnut milk is used as an ingredient in solid food (such as oatmeal), then it is acceptable to serve before 12 months of age.

If, after the first birthday, you’d like to introduce hazelnut milk as a beverage, it’s fine to do so, but know that nut milks often lack adequate calories, fat, and protein for toddlers. Typically, fortified soy or pea milk are more nutritious. See our Milk FAQs to learn more.