Yes, babies can have olive oil in small amounts from around 6 months, mainly mixed into cooked foods as part of a varied diet.
Parents hear mixed messages about olive oil for babies, from adding it to purees to keeping it away from soft skin. It can be hard to know what is safe, what is useful, and what is just a passed-down tip from someone else’s kitchen.
This guide sets out when olive oil fits into a baby’s diet, how to add it to meals, and the few times you should avoid it so feeding stays simple and safe.
Can A Baby Have Olive Oil? Age Guidelines And Safety
The short answer to “can a baby have olive oil?” is yes, but timing and dose matter. Major health organisations recommend breast milk or infant formula as the only food for roughly the first six months. After that point, most babies are ready to start solid foods while milk stays their main source of energy for many more months.
The American Academy of Pediatrics and CDC advice on starting solid foods note that babies are usually ready for complementary foods at about six months when they can sit with help, hold their head steady, and swallow from a spoon without pushing food straight back out. At that stage, small amounts of added fats such as olive oil can sit alongside other soft foods as part of a varied menu.
Extra fats help young children meet high energy needs, but olive oil should stay as a small flavour boost, not a main source of nutrition.
| Age Group | How Olive Oil May Be Used | Typical Amount Per Meal |
|---|---|---|
| Under 6 months | No olive oil in feeds; breast milk or formula only unless a doctor advises otherwise. | None |
| 6 to 8 months | Mixed into smooth vegetable or grain purees, or brushed onto soft cooked vegetables. | Up to 1/4 teaspoon once a day |
| 8 to 10 months | Stirred into mashed foods such as lentils, potatoes, or soft pasta. | 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon in one or two meals |
| 10 to 12 months | Used to cook or dress bits of family food that are served in baby sized pieces. | Up to 1 teaspoon spread across the day |
| 1 to 2 years | Part of normal family cooking, while still keeping meals low in added salt and sugar. | 1 to 2 teaspoons per day from all sources |
| All ages | Never given by the spoon as a drink or medicine, as this raises choking and stomach upset risks. | Not advised |
| Preterm or medically fragile babies | Any change to feeding, including oils, should be planned with the baby’s own medical team. | Individual plan |
Because every child grows at a slightly different pace, those amounts are only rough guides. Some babies will take in less; few need more. The goal is to add flavour and texture, not to flood tiny tummies with extra fat.
Why Parents Add Olive Oil To Baby Food
Olive oil has a long history in family cooking. Parents reach for it because it provides energy, adds a gentle taste, and blends smoothly into purees and finger foods.
Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats and carries some vitamin E and plant compounds. Other fats such as rapeseed oil, butter, avocado, nut butters in safe forms, and full fat dairy foods also help, so the best approach is to offer a mix over the week.
How To Add Olive Oil To Your Baby’s Meals
Once you know that can a baby have olive oil?, the next question is how to bring it in safely. The safest path is to start low, move gradually, and pair it with simple foods your baby already handles well.
Start Small With Smooth Textures
Begin by stirring a few drops of olive oil into a smooth puree your baby already eats, such as carrots, squash, or mashed potato. Offer a couple of spoonfuls and watch for any change in stool pattern, skin, or comfort during and after feeds. If all goes well, keep using that small amount a few times per week.
Build Up In Mixed Dishes
After a week or two, you can cook vegetables in olive oil, then mash them with a little of their cooking liquid. Drizzling a thin line over soft pasta spirals or rice can also work once your child manages finger foods.
Share Family Meals Safely
As your child nears one year, much more of their plate will match the rest of the family. You can cook with olive oil for the rest of the family, then set aside a portion for your baby before you add salt, strong sauces, or crunchy toppings for adult plates.
Is Olive Oil Safe For Babies And Toddlers With Allergies?
Olive allergy is rare, but no food carries zero risk. When you first add olive oil, watch your child closely for hives, swelling, vomiting, or breathing trouble. These reactions tend to appear within minutes to two hours of exposure.
Because olive oil is often mixed into other foods, try to keep new introductions spaced out. Pair olive oil with foods your baby already knows for the first few feeds. If your child has eczema, multiple food allergies, or a strong family history of allergy, ask their doctor whether to introduce olive oil in a supervised setting.
Can Olive Oil Help With Baby Constipation?
Many relatives suggest giving a spoonful of olive oil by mouth to soften hard stools. That tip is common on parenting forums, yet medical advice tells a different story. Giving pure oil by spoon can upset a baby’s stomach and may raise the risk of inhaling liquid into the lungs.
NHS advice on constipation in children focuses on fluids, movement, and fibre rich foods once a child is old enough to eat them. Olive oil does not appear on those official advice pages as a home treatment. If your child strains, passes hard stools, or seems in pain, a paediatric health professional is far better placed to guide you on safe medicines and diet changes than home remedies shared by word of mouth.
Small amounts of olive oil within normal food are unlikely to cause harm and may gently help overall stool softness as part of a balanced diet. Big doses by spoon, or adding oil to bottles, are not safe choices.
Using Olive Oil On Baby Skin And For Massage
Parents sometimes pour a bit of kitchen olive oil into their hands for baby massage or to treat flaky newborn skin. That may feel natural, yet research suggests caution. Studies from the United Kingdom, including research from the University of Manchester, have found that olive oil on newborn skin can slow down the development of the protective skin barrier and may raise the risk of dryness and irritation over time.
Because of that, many midwives and baby massage teachers now recommend avoiding olive oil on newborn skin, at least for the first month and often for longer. Some suggest fragrance free, mineral based products or specific plant oils chosen by health teams instead. The National Health Service in the UK advises parents not to use any oils or lotions on brand new babies during the early weeks while the skin matures.
If you want to try baby massage, ask your health visitor or paediatric nurse which products they prefer and stop straight away if any redness or swelling appears.
Quick Reference: Olive Oil Uses For Babies
This table sums up common ways parents use olive oil around babies and how health advice views each one.
| Olive Oil Use | Practical Advice | Level Of Caution |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed into vegetable or grain purees | Safe from about six months in tiny amounts, once your baby manages solids. | Low |
| Used to cook soft family foods | Fine from late in the first year; offer soft textures and skip added salt. | Low |
| Given by spoon as a laxative | Not advised; speak with a doctor about constipation treatments instead. | High |
| Added to bottles of milk | Should not be done because it alters the feed and may raise choking risk. | High |
| Used on newborn skin for dryness | Avoid in the early weeks; ask your midwife or doctor before using any oil. | High |
| Massage oil for older babies | May irritate some skin types; patch test and stop use if redness appears. | Medium |
| Part of a varied family diet | One of many fats that can sit in balanced meals as your child grows. | Low |
When To Talk To A Doctor About Olive Oil And Your Baby
Reach out for medical advice right away if your child has any signs of allergy, trouble breathing, repeated vomiting, or a sudden change in alertness after eating or skin contact with olive oil. Bring the bottle with you so the team can see the exact type and any added herbs, garlic, or flavourings.
It also makes sense to ask for professional advice if your baby has poor weight gain, long lasting constipation, eczema, or any chronic health condition. In those situations, even small diet tweaks, including added fats, should sit within a plan from the team that knows your baby’s full history.
Final Thoughts On Olive Oil For Babies
Olive oil can sit comfortably in your baby’s life once solids begin, as long as it is used in modest amounts and as part of a broad mix of foods. Add a little to purees, soft vegetables, and family dishes, but skip the spoonfuls of straight oil and keep it away from brand new skin.
Lean on trusted health advice about starting solids and treating constipation or skin problems, so olive oil stays one pleasant ingredient among many on your child’s plate each day.