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Can Babies Eat Milkfish? How to Cook and Serve

Milkfish, known as bangus in the Philippines, is a soft, mild, oily fish that is low in mercury. The catch is bones: it is riddled with fine pin bones, so it needs careful deboning or a trusted boneless fillet before you serve it. Cook it fully and flake it well.

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When to introduce: 6 months+
Common allergen?: Yes - fish
Texture: Well cooked, deboned, and flaked
Key nutrients: Omega-3s, protein, B12, calcium

Milkfish is a farmed, fast growing fish that turns up all over Southeast Asian kitchens, often fried, grilled, or simmered. For a baby it has a lot going for it: the flesh is soft and mild, it carries plenty of omega-3s, and because the fish is harvested young it stays low in mercury. The one job that really matters is the bones. Milkfish is genuinely one of the boniest fish you will meet, so plan to debone patiently or buy it already boneless.

Prep School: how to prepare milkfish for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

6 to 9 monthsUse a boneless fillet or debone very carefully. Poach or steam until fully cooked, then flake and mash, feeling for bones with your fingers. Offer a soft spoonful mixed into mashed potato or rice.

9 to 12 monthsServe soft, boned flakes your baby can pick up, or press flakes into little patties with mashed vegetable so they hold together. Keep checking for stray bones.

12 months+Offer flaked milkfish over rice or in a low salt soup, still fully deboned. Skip heavily fried or salted versions and go easy on any dipping sauces.

Is milkfish safe? Choking & prep

Milkfish is farmed and harvested young, so it stays low in mercury, which is why it sits among the everyday fish rather than the ones to limit.¹ The part that needs your full attention is bones. Milkfish has around 180 fine pin bones running through the flesh, and those are a choking and injury risk for a baby, so debone it thoroughly or use a trusted boneless fillet, then flake the cooked flesh and run your fingers through it one more time. Fish is also a common allergen, so the first time you offer it, give a small amount on its own and watch for a reaction over the next couple of hours.² Keep it low in salt and cook it all the way through.

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Nutrition

Milkfish is an oily fish, so it brings omega-3 fats for brain and eye development, along with good protein and vitamin B12. If any of the tiny soft bones stay mashed in, it adds some calcium too. It is a filling, satisfying fish that pairs well with plain starchy sides.

Goes well with

Mashed potato · Rice · Steamed spinach · Sweet potato · Avocado · Lemon (a squeeze)

Storage & freezing

Fresh milkfish is oily and perishable, so cook it the day you buy it or freeze it. Cooked, deboned flakes keep sealed in the fridge for about a day. If you use frozen boneless fillets, thaw them in the fridge and cook fully the same day, and do not refreeze once thawed.

More proteins to explore

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MonkfishAround 6 months

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Moong dalAround 6 months

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MooseFrom about 6 months

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Moth beans6 months+

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MulletAround 6 months

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Mung beansAround 6 months

Introducing this allergen

Common questions

Is milkfish safe for babies?

Yes. It is low in mercury and soft, so it is fine from around 6 months once solids are going well. The only real hurdle is its many fine bones, which you must remove carefully.

How do I deal with all the bones?

The easiest route is a boneless, deboned milkfish fillet, sold frozen in many Asian groceries. If you debone it yourself, cook it first, then flake the flesh slowly and run your fingers through every bit before serving.

Is milkfish a common allergen?

Fish is one of the common food allergens, so offer a small amount on its own the first time and watch for any reaction. Introducing fish early and regularly is fine and may even help.

Can I give my baby fried bangus?

Go easy on it. Deep fried, salted versions are not ideal for babies. Poaching, steaming, or gentle pan cooking with little or no salt is much better.

Sources

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Last updated July 2026. Next review January 2027. How we write these: grounded in widely published pediatric guidance (the AAP, WHO, the NIAID 2017 allergen guidelines, and the LEAP study), and pending independent review by a pediatric professional. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these.

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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