When & how to introduce eggs to your baby

01When can babies have eggs?

Most babies can have eggs around 6 months, once they're eating solids and showing readiness signs — sitting with support, steady head control, and interest in food. Egg is a great early allergen to introduce: large studies support offering it early and keeping it in the diet rather than waiting. If your baby has severe eczema or an existing food allergy, check with your pediatrician about timing first.

02How to introduce egg safely

The safest first egg is fully cooked — never runny or lightly cooked, which carries a small food-safety risk for babies. Scrambled-then-mashed or hard-boiled and thinned both work well.

1. Cook it well. Soft-scramble and mash, or hard-boil and thin into a familiar purée — fully cooked, no runny egg.
2. Offer a small taste on the tip of a spoon, then wait ~10 minutes. No reaction? Offer a bit more.
3. Watch for about 2 hours, earlier in the day, when your baby is healthy and you're at home.
4. Keep it up. Once tolerated, serve egg regularly — about twice a week — so exposure stays consistent.

03Scrambled eggs for babies

Well-cooked scrambled egg is one of the easiest first forms — soft, easy to mash, and quick to make. Cook it fully (no wet or runny curds), skip the salt, and serve it mashed for younger babies or in soft, pea-sized pieces once your baby is handling finger foods. A splash of breast milk or formula in the pan keeps it tender.

04What does an egg allergy look like?

Egg is one of the most common childhood food allergens, and most reactions are mild and show up within minutes to about two hours.

• Mild: a few hives, redness or mild swelling around the mouth, an itchy rash, or some vomiting. Stop and call your pediatrician.
• Severe (call 911): trouble breathing or wheezing, swelling of the lips/tongue/face, repeated vomiting, or a pale, floppy baby.

Good news: many children outgrow egg allergy, and most who react to egg can still tolerate it baked into foods over time — but always work that out with your pediatrician, not on your own.

05Keep egg in rotation

Tolerance is maintained by repeated exposure, not a single taste — "eat early, eat often." Once egg goes well, keep it in your baby's diet a couple of times a week. Planning the whole allergen line-up? Grab our free allergen introduction schedule to keep egg, peanut, and the rest on track.

Frequently asked questions

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