Nutmeg

Nutmeg may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. When adding the spice directly to baby’s food, keep the amount to a small pinch—excessive amounts of nutmeg can cause neurological, respiratory, and other symptoms. Nutmeg can also come in the form of nutmeg butters, oils, and teas, all of which should be avoided for baby to avoid excessive nutmeg ingestion.

Nutmeg comes from the stone fruit of a tropical evergreen tree that originated in the Maluku islands of Southeast Asia. Most nutmeg still comes from the region, though nutmeg trees planted by colonizers in the tropics of the Americas and South Asia also produce fruits. To make nutmeg, the fruit’s pit is dried until the seed shrivels and pulls away from its shell. During this process, the bright red casing surrounding the pit is also dried to make the spice called mace. Both mace and nutmeg are used to season sweet and savory foods like bakso bakar meatballs, gulai curry, and jerk chicken.

Yes, nutmeg is generally recognized as safe in amounts typically used in cooking. Accidental excess nutmeg consumption is extremely rare in regular cooking, but when it has been consumed in excess, it has been associated with neurological, hallucinogenic, respiratory, and other symptoms. When cooking for baby, a pinch of nutmeg goes a long way.

Yes. While nutmeg is used in small amounts, it offers small amounts of a variety of vitamins and minerals, in addition to beneficial plant compounds. Research also suggests that nutmeg may offer anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant properties to support baby’s overall health.

Nutmeg contains a compound called myristicin, which can lead to neurological, hallucinogenic, respiratory, and other symptoms when consumed in excess, but accidental excess nutmeg intake is extremely rare when consuming it in regular cooking. Nutmeg can also come in the form of nutmeg butter, oil, and tea, all of which should be avoided for baby to avoid excessive nutmeg ingestion. When adding the spice directly to baby’s food, keep the amount to a small pinch—a little goes a long way.

★ Tip: Nutmeg can be purchased as a powder or as a whole seed. For fresher flavor, choose whole seeds and grate only the amount needed for a recipe. The remaining seed can be stored in an airtight container to be used again later.

No. Allergies to nutmeg are rare, but have been reported on occasion. If the child has other food allergies, read the label of any spice blend carefully – certain spice blends that feature nutmeg may contain common food allergens, such as tree nuts or sesame seed.

Even though nutmeg allergy is uncommon, spices can cause symptoms that are similar to allergic reactions. For example, inhaling a puff of powdered nutmeg can irritate the nasal passages and trigger sneezing and coughing due to an irritant response, rather than an allergic reaction. Additionally, nutmeg has been reported to cause contact rashes due to potentially skin-irritating components in the food, as well as contact allergy.


It is common for babies to develop a rash around their mouths after eating foods with spices such as nutmeg. A rash around the mouth after contact with spiced foods is typically just a skin irritation, and is rarely an actual allergic reaction. Spicy foods may also cause or worsen diaper rash. As nutmeg is generally used in very small quantities, the risk of a severe contact rash is low. If your baby has sensitive skin, talk to your baby’s doctor about applying a thin layer of barrier cream or ointment—such as pure petroleum jelly or a plant-based oil/wax balm—to baby’s face and diaper area before mealtime. This layer of protection will help prevent contact rashes by serving as a barrier between the skin and the potentially irritating components of food.

As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity for the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals.

Yes. A whole nutmeg is small, round, and hard, qualities that increase the risk of choking, but finely ground or powdered nutmeg presents a low risk. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve nutmeg in an age-appropriate way as described in the How to Serve section. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals. 

Learn the signs of choking and gagging and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.

When first getting started, offer a small amount and trust that baby knows how to show interest in wanting more by grunting, pointing, or reaching out. Keep in mind that most babies between 6 and 9 months of age do not consume much solid food at first. For babies between 10 and 12 months of age, work toward what a balanced adult meal would look like, just with smaller portions than what you might have. Follow the child’s lead: when baby indicates “more”, offer more food. When baby shows signs that they are finished, stop offering food.

End the meal and follow up with a breast or bottle feed. Never pressure a baby or child to eat; it will only worsen food refusal in the long run. Babies refuse food for different reasons, such as teething, illness, sleepiness, or lack of energy or interest in learning a new skill. For information on why baby may refuse to eat, see our guide, Handling Food Refusal.