Walnut

Tree Nut

Age Suggestion

6 months

Iron-Rich

Yes

Common Allergen

Yes

a pile of walnuts on a table before being prepared for babies starting solids

When can babies have walnuts?

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

Walnuts are the seeds of leafy deciduous trees in our planet’s temperate regions, from China to Iran to the United States. While there are many varieties of edible walnuts, there are two main types that are frequently consumed: the black walnut of North America and the common walnut of Southwest Asia, which has become one of the most popular nuts in the world.

How do you serve walnuts 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 +:

Purchase smooth walnut butter (honey free) or finely grind walnuts 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 until finely ground. To serve the ground nut, sprinkle a little into warm cereal or onto slippery foods like mango pits or avocado slices. When serving walnut butter, spread a very thin layer onto other age-appropriate foods. You can thin it with breast milk, formula, water, or foods like applesauce or yogurt before using as a spread to further reduce the choking risk. You can also spread the thinned-out walnut butter very thinly on toast strips. Try serving with a drink in an open cup to help wash down any sticky pieces of food.

12 months old +:

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

24 months old +:

Continue to finely grind walnuts and use walnut butter as you wish. 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, they may be ready to learn how to eat whole walnuts. Just remember that nuts and nut pieces are considered choking hazards until age 4 and even beyond by all governing medical bodies.

Only serve nuts when the child is seated in an upright seat and is actively engaged in mealtime and not distracted. It is important to help the 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. Do not serve nuts in a stroller, car seat, or while toddler is on the move (walking around).

To model how to eat whole walnuts safely, start by telling the child: "This is a hard one. Watch me." Then, show the child how to bite into a walnut. Hold the walnut between your thumb and index finger and place it in-between your front 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 so it’s visible. 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 this a couple of times before offering your child a walnut to do the same.

To coach a child through eating a whole nut safely, say, "Your turn to try." For the very first attempt, firmly hold on to the nut for the 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 the child insists on holding the walnut themselves, allow them to self-feed and take a bite if you feel comfortable. If you do not feel comfortable or if the child does not bite or attempt to break down the walnut with your support, we'd recommend waiting a few weeks more.

After practicing nuts with the child, make sure their mouth is clear before taking them out of the highchair. Never allow a toddler to walk around with nuts or nut pieces in their mouth.

Check out our video, Introducing Allergens, and take the guesswork out of introducing common allergens like tree nuts.

Videos

Juliet Rose, 6 months, eats soft slices of pear with finely ground walnut.

Malden, 9 months, eats yogurt with finely ground walnuts.

Amelia, 10 months, eats finely ground walnut for the first time.

Are walnuts a choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Whole nuts, nut pieces, and globs of nut butter are choking hazards for babies and young children. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve walnut and walnut butters 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 walnuts a common allergen?

Yes, walnuts are classified as a Global Priority Allergen by the World Health Organization. Walnuts are considered tree nuts (although they are technically a seed). Due to similarities in the protein structure of walnuts and pecans, children who are allergic to walnuts are frequently also allergic to pecans (~70% of children with walnut allergy will also be allergic to pecan.) While only 0.5 to 1.2% of the population is allergic to tree nuts, the allergy is usually life-long: only 9% of children with a tree nut allergy will outgrow it.

Allergic reactions to walnut ingestion can be severe,but walnuts are also a known cause of Oral Allergy Syndrome, especially in individuals who are allergic to birch tree pollen. Oral Allergy Syndrome to walnut 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 walnut may have cross-reactive allergy with a number of other tree nuts and seeds. 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 walnut 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 walnut at home. Your doctor can help you determine if walnuts 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 walnut 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 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.

Are walnuts healthy for babies?

Yes. Walnuts are an excellent source of healthy fats, which are terrific for neurological development and heart health. In fact, they are one of the richest whole-food sources of alpha-linoleic acid that exists. Walnuts also contain fiber to support digestion, and folate and zinc to power growth and immunity. Like all nuts, walnuts are also a great source of iron, making them a particularly healthful food for plant-based diet.

★Tip: Walnuts go rancid easily, so store raw walnuts or open jars of walnut butter in the refrigerator. Walnuts can keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3 months, and in the freezer for up to 1 year.

Can babies drink walnut 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 walnut 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 walnut milk as a beverage, it’s fine to do so, but know that nut milk often lacks 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.