App First Foods® Database Gift Toddlers Book

Olives

Fruit

Age Suggestion

6 months

Iron-Rich

Yes

Common Allergen

a pile of olives before being prepared for babies starting solids

When can babies have olives?

Olives may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Learn how to serve olive oil to babies here.

Olives are an ancient fruit that originated in the lands around the Mediterranean Sea. Today, olives are grown in sunny, warm climates around the world on farms that specialize in different varieties. There are the fruity Arbequina olives of Spain, the meaty Beldi olives of Morocco, the buttery Castelvetrano olives of Italy, the Kalamata olives of Greece, the Picholine olives of France, the Souri olives of Lebanon, and hundreds more. They range in size and color, from brown to green to black, depending on their ripeness and processing methods. Because olives are very bitter when picked fresh, they are cured to be palatable to our tastes.

How do you serve olives 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.

a Solid Starts infographic with the title How to Serve Olives to Babies

6 months old +:

Offer tapenade or another spread made from pureed or finely chopped olives; spread the food on toast strips or teething rusks, or mix into scoopable foods like mashed vegetables. Alternatively, finely chop olives (all pits removed) and mix into soft, scoopable foods.

9 months old +:

Offer olives sliced into thin rings, all pits removed. This shape is great for babies practicing their developing pincer grasp, where the thumb and pointer finger meet. Alternatively, continue to finely chop and mix into scoopable foods or puree the olives and spread onto other foods like toast or teething rusks.

12 months old +:

Continue to serve olives sliced into thin rings, with all pits removed, or as tapenade or other olive spread. At this age, you can also serve olives that have been halved or quartered lengthwise, pits removed. Feel free to serve the olives with an age-appropriate fork and, if the child needs help, try pre-loading the fork and resting it on the edge of the bowl for them to pick up or handing the fork over in the air for the child to grab.

24 months old +:

Continue serving sliced, halved, or quartered olives, pits removed. If a child is taking accurate sized bites, not stuffing their mouth with food, and is able to follow instructions, they may be ready to learn how to practice eating a whole, pitted olive (an olive with the pit already removed). While whole olives are a choking hazard, it is our professional opinion that there are enormous benefits in teaching toddlers to take bites from challenging foods and to work with a whole olive in the mouth so they learn how to safely eat it. If you feel the child is ready for it and you are okay taking the risk, consider serving whole, pitted olives, coaching the child how to take bites and to chew thoroughly. Make sure to create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach.

Note that even some olives that are sold as “pitted” may still contain pits. If the toddler gets an olive pit in their mouth, step one: do not panic. Remember that a pit can be safely swallowed whole, spit out, or may engage a strong gag reflex to move it forward and out of the mouth. Kneel next to the toddler and demonstrate sticking your tongue out and say calmly: “Spit that out please.” Put your hand under their chin while you demonstrate. If needed, put a pit in your own mouth, show it on your tongue and demonstrate spitting it into your own hand.

3 years old +:

If a child is able to follow instructions and has been successfully eating whole olives with the pit removed, they may be ready to learn how to eat a whole olive with the pit still inside. Consider starting with types of olive that easily separate from the pit (like kalamata, not castelvetrano, for example). First, model how to take bites from the whole olive yourself, tearing off one half. Say, “My teeth hit the hard pit.” Turn the food around to show the pit to the child. Tap it and explain, “Look, there’s a hard pit in there.” Then, pull the pit out and show it to them, saying, “We don’t eat this part.” Dramatically toss the pit into the trash. Offer a whole olive to the child and say, “You try”. You can try to hold onto the olive while they take their first bite, but know they may get the whole thing in their mouth anyway.

If the child inadvertently puts a pit in their mouth, step one: do not panic. Remember that a pit can be safely swallowed whole, or may produce a strong enough gag reflex to move it forward and out of the mouth. Kneel next to the child and demonstrate sticking your tongue out, then say “Spit that out please.” Put your hand under their chin. If needed, put a pit in your own mouth, show it on your tongue, then demonstrate spitting it into your own hand.

Get all of baby’s caregivers on the same page with our guide Baby-led Weaning with Daycare and Caregivers.

Videos

Zeke, 11 months, eats green olives.

Callie, 12 months, eats black olives.

Cooper, 26 months, practices eating whole olives with the pits removed

Are olives a choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Olives are round, slippery, and can be firm or springy, and may contain a hard pit, qualities that increase the risk of choking. To reduce the risk, make sure that olives are pitted (i.e. their inner pits have already been removed) and prepare and serve olives 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.

Are olives a common allergen?

No. Olives are not a common allergen. Rare cases of contact dermatitis and food allergy to olive have occurred in areas where olives are commonly harvested.

Certain individuals allergic to the pollen from olive trees, the Oleaceae family of plants, such as ash, privet, jasmine, and forsythia, or who have Oral Allergy Syndrome (also called pollen food allergy syndrome) may also be sensitive to eating olives. Oral Allergy Syndrome typically results in short-lived itching, burning, or tingling in the mouth and is unlikely to result in a dangerous reaction. While this sensitivity could, in theory, extend to cold-pressed or extra virgin olive oils, most individuals with allergy to the olive fruit are able to tolerate olive oil.

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

Are olives healthy for babies?

Yes. Olives are rich in nourishing fats, including omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. They also offer fiber, calcium, iron, and vitamins E and K, in addition to a variety of plant compounds that have antioxidant properties. These nutrients work together to provide energy to support baby’s play and exploration, as well as a flourishing gut microbiome, brain development, immune function, bone density, blood clotting, reduction in inflammation, and heart health.

While olives can be high in sodium, the amount of sodium that babies eat tends to be low as they learn the skills to feed themselves, and some sodium is important for supporting baby’s electrolyte balance, hydration, and movement. While many health organizations recommend holding or reducing salt in food shared with baby, recent reviews of literature suggest that this may not be necessary. Furthermore, sharing family meals, even if they contain salt, has its benefits: baby has opportunities to explore a wider variety of food, share their family food culture, and practice eating a variety of textures.

★Tip: Open containers of olives tend to keep for up to 4 weeks in the fridge; this also applies to olives from a self-serve counter.

How many meals per day should baby eat?

It’s flexible. Generally speaking, bring baby to the table at least once per day between 6 and 7 months of age, twice per day between 8 and 9 months of age, and 3 times per day starting at around 10 months of age. See our sample feeding schedules for details.

What do I do if baby won't eat?

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.

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