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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.