Fish for a 6mo

[Pastabee]

Weaning is going really well with DD. I offer finger foods which she loves and spoon feed her the really messy stuff such as yoghurt and porridge.

I don't eat fish, it's the only food I dislike and I'm not sure how best to introduce it to DD. I'm a good cook in general but have no experience of cooking fish and what type would be best for her to try. I'm also a bit concerned about bones.

DH suggested buying fishfingers and pulling
the coating off as this would ensure no bones were present but I don't give her any other processed foods so not sure if this is a sensible idea.

Any advice / ideas?

Fish has quite a strong taste so I tend to begin by adding a tiny bit to mash potato. You could try tuna or white fish such as cod or coley.

From about 9 months you could introduce pilchards or sardines on toast. Believe me, its a hit whith most children although their parents never believe it.

Another one is a mackerel paste made by adding a tin of mackerel to some soft cheese and mixing together.

I work as a nursery cook by the way, so I have a lot of experience with what works and what doesn't.

Thanks very much. Mixing cod with something blander sounds like great advice. I'll give it a go!

dd1 (3.4) loves fish and had it from about this age; now getting started with dd2 (6 months); I usually keep it very simple, I poach a small piece of fish (just boil water in small pan), make sure that it is thoroughly cooked, leave it to cool down a bit and then flake it with a fork. That way the pieces are manageable, and you can check for bones.

it also makes for a very quick easy supper - little bit of poached salmon, some broccoli and rice

Thanks rhetorician. There is a gorgeous looking fish shop nearby so I think I'll pop in and get some cod and salmon and see what she makes of it.

Agree cod and salmon are really good choices.

There are annabel karmel recipes re both of these which basically suggest cooking and flaking 150g of cod/salmon and broccoli/spinach and mixing with a cheese sauce (grated cheese/milk/butter/tablespoon plain flour heated and stirred in pan). Then mash/blend the lot. They taste really nice and make about 4-5 portions to be frozen. Have been giving my son them since about 7 months and he loves them.

Sainsburys and asda do a value range of salmon bits in a small vacuum pouch -( looks a bit like a cat food pouch), it's only about a pound. I portion this into small freezer pots and get out as needed. Poach in some milk and blitz it with sweet potato.

I am two months in to weaning and have found ds loves steamed fish. About 8 minutes in a steamer seems to cook most fish nicely. I just got one of those little metal tray steamers you can pop in any pot. Add in some veges and your whole meal is done in one. I put the fish a little trough of foil to make cleanup easier.

We pop to the local fish counter a couple of times a week and get a little bit of a different fish each time. So far salmon, monkfish and plaice have been big hits. I just tell the fishmonger it's for the baby and he carefully removes the bones and skin. I check it as I feed also.

Maybe if you try some of the different fish with the baby you might find one you like too :)

and it's so good for them...great to get them to have a taste for it before they can decide they don't like it etc

Ahahaha! When I read your thread title, I thought you meant for a pet, and was thinking 'I can't see a 6-mo getting much enjoyment out of a goldfish really.' Arf!

Ha ha poledra I have enough trouble keeping her from overly annoying the cat!

I think you might be right thetoad as it is all a childish hang up about the boil in the bag fish my mother gave me . Hopefully DD will like her fishy supper and help me get over my seafood ishooos!

Hi Pastabee - I am working up the courage to try fish too. Apparently pollack is a good choice, bit like cod but more environmentally friendly (if that's important to you) and quite a lot cheaper. I know our local waitrose sells it. I'd try to avoid tuna to start with though as they can contain quite a lot of pollution/heavy metals. I don't think adults are supposed to eat it more than once a week so god knows what it could do to babies. Hope your dd loves whatever you give her!

I'm not a fan of fish either but wanted my DD to eat it. I found some bags of small pieces in the frozen section in Tesco. They do salmon, pollock and something smoked. They only take a minute or two to microwave. My DD had a particular fondness for salmon with sweet potato, broccoli & cream cheese.

What about tinned fish, super easy and no cooking required! Check for salt content though. I have found waitrose & the co-op do tinned mackerel with no added salt.

Tinned fish is good too as long as you get the fish in oil or tomato rather than brine. DD is 8 months and loves Tuna, Mackeral, Sardines and Salmon - the only one we have had a problem with bones is with Salmon. She has had it with various combinations of potato, sweet potato, pasta, carrots, parsnips, spinach, peas, sweetcorn, asparagus, green beans etc (usually a carb, plus 2 veg and maybe some onion and garlic).

Aldi do some mini tins of tuna in tomato sauce which she loves and is good because there is less waste than with the big tins if you don't get round to using it all.

She also loves fish pie with white fish and salmon.

Babies love strong tastes.

Fish pie is great when on chunky food rather than purée

Can add flaked fish into lots off little ramakins, add white/ cheese sauce then mash potato on top.

Can freeze for 4 months and just increase ramakin size/ add peas on side etc as they grow

I usually make 12 at a time which lasts a few weeks ( x2 little ones)