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Hazelnut for Babies: When and How to Introduce It

A warm, toasty tree nut you can introduce early, served only as smooth butter or finely ground. Not the same as chocolate-hazelnut spread.

When to introduce: Around 9 months
Common allergen?: Yes (tree nut, a top-9 allergen)
Texture: Smooth butter or finely ground
Key nutrients: Protein, fat, vitamin E

When can babies eat hazelnut?

Hazelnut is a good way to introduce a tree nut from around 9 months, as long as it is smooth butter or very finely ground and thinned. Hazelnut is its own top-9 allergen, so introduce it on its own and watch for a couple of days.

How to prepare hazelnut, by age

9 monthsWhisk a small amount of smooth hazelnut butter into purée or yogurt until thin and not sticky.

12 months+Stir finely ground hazelnut into oatmeal, or spread a thin layer of hazelnut butter on toast fingers.

18 months+A thin layer on soft foods, always smooth or finely ground, never pieces.

Is hazelnut safe? Choking & prep

Offer hazelnut only as smooth butter or very finely ground, thinned to a thin, non-sticky layer. A sticky blob is a choking risk, and whole or chopped hazelnuts are unsafe until age 4.

First time with hazelnut? Log the bite and Yummy Yucky runs the 3-day allergen watch for you, so a reaction gets noticed instead of second-guessed.

Track hazelnut in the app →

Nutrition

Hazelnut offers protein, healthy fat, and vitamin E, and it counts toward introducing the tree nut allergen.

Goes well with

Oatmeal · Banana · Pear

Storage & freezing

Keep hazelnut butter refrigerated after opening and stir before use, since natural nut butters separate.

Introducing this allergen

How to introduce hazelnut safely →

Frequently asked questions

When can babies have hazelnut?

Around 9 months, as smooth hazelnut butter or very finely ground and thinned. Never whole hazelnuts.

Can my baby have Nutella?

Chocolate-hazelnut spreads are mostly sugar and are not a baby food. Use plain smooth hazelnut butter instead to introduce the nut.

Is hazelnut a separate allergen?

Yes. Hazelnut is its own tree nut, so introduce it separately and watch for two to three days.

Can I give my baby a whole hazelnut?

No. Whole and chopped nuts are a choking hazard until age 4. Use smooth butter or a fine grind instead.

Sources

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Track it in Yummy Yucky

Log first tries, get nudged through the 3-day allergen watch, and keep every bite in one place you can share with your pediatrician.

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How we write these: from widely published pediatric guidance (AAP, NIAID 2017 guidelines, the LEAP study), with sources cited on every page. Pending review by a pediatric professional.

This is general information, not medical advice, and has not been individually reviewed for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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