Clams
Briny and tender when minced. Cook them until the shells open, then chop small.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Babies can eat clams from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.
How to serve clams by age
6 months+
Minced clams or clam cakes
Cook clams until the shells open (throw away any that stay shut), take the meat out of the shells, then mince it very finely and stir into mashed potato, rice or a soft vegetable mash, or shape the mixture into finger-sized cakes.
- Size
- Finely minced into soft food, or clam cakes shaped like a finger, about 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in).
- Check before serving
- Rub the minced clam between your fingers before mixing it in: you shouldn't feel any grit, bits of shell or chewy lumps. Clam cakes should flatten when you squash them gently.
US and UK advice differ here. The AAP suggests mashed food or soft pieces no larger than ½ inch; the NHS suggests soft finger-sized pieces your baby can hold in their fist. Both agree the food must squash easily.
9 months+
Finely chopped pieces
Chop cooked clam meat finely and mix into soft foods like rice, pasta, scrambled egg (once egg has been introduced) or mashed vegetables. Clams are chewy, so smaller is safer.
- Size
- Pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), finely chopped.
- Check before serving
- Check that no whole clams, grit or pieces of shell are left in the mix.
12 months+
Chopped or in family meals
Chop clams into small pieces and serve them in pasta, rice dishes, soups or fritters. Leave salt out of your toddler's portion. Don't serve clams whole yet.
- Size
- Bite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), cut from each clam.
- Check before serving
- Check that no whole clams or pieces of shell are left, and that each piece is no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
18 months+
Chopped into family meals
Keep chopping clams into small pieces in family dishes. A whole clam is a chewy chunk that's hard for toddlers to break down, so wait on serving them whole or in the shell.
- Size
- Bite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Check that each piece is cut small and that no whole clams or pieces of shell are left.
Always have your child sit upright in a high chair or at the table, and stay with them the whole time they eat. Keep to the size and texture for their stage. Every baby develops on their own timeline.
How to prepare clams
- 1
Buy live clams from a shop that keeps the tag on the sack or container. Throw away any with cracked or broken shells, and any that don't close when you tap them.
- 2
Rinse the shells under cold running water, and keep raw clams and their juices away from cooked food. Steam or simmer the clams until the shells open, and throw away any that stay shut. Don't add salt.
- 3
Let them cool, take the meat out of the shells, then mince finely (6 months) or chop small (9 months+). Mix into a soft food or shape into cakes.
- 4
First time? Pick a day your baby is well, at home, when you can watch them for a couple of hours afterward.
How much to offer
For the very first taste, offer a small amount: a teaspoon of minced clam mixed into a food your baby already eats. If there's no reaction, offer more next time. For ages 1 to 3, the FDA suggests a fish or shellfish serving of about 1 oz (28 g), twice a week. Clams cooked in their shells are naturally salty, so keep portions small. Your baby decides how much to eat.
Common mistakes
Serving clams whole
Whole clams are chewy, and the AAP says to modify chunks of meat and cut food for young children into pieces no larger than ½ inch. Mince or chop clams into small pieces.
Undercooking them
Cook clams until the shells open, and throw away any that stay shut. Never offer raw or lightly cooked clams: the NHS says raw or lightly cooked shellfish such as clams can increase the risk of food poisoning.
Cooking cracked or open clams
Before cooking, throw away any clams with cracked or broken shells, and any that stay open when you tap them. Live clams close when tapped.
Not counting the salt
FoodData Central lists about 1,200 mg of sodium per 100 g of clams cooked in moist heat (about 3 g of salt), against about 110 mg for canned clams (drained solids). The NHS says babies under 1 should have less than 1 g of salt a day. Keep clams to a small part of the meal, add no salt, and choose fried clam strips rarely: the NHS says steamed, baked or grilled seafood is a healthier choice than fried.
Questions parents ask
Can clams be a choking hazard for babies?
Whole clams are chewy and a choking risk for young children. Mince them for babies and cut them into small pieces for toddlers. Take every clam out of its shell and check for bits of shell and grit. Never offer raw or undercooked shellfish. Stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to clams?
Shellfish is a common allergen. Clams are mollusks, not crustaceans like shrimp, crab and lobster. The ACAAI says crustaceans cause the most shellfish reactions and many people with a shellfish allergy can eat mollusks, but the NHS notes that people allergic to one type of shellfish often react to others. Shellfish can be introduced from around 6 months, like other foods: start with a small amount on its own and watch for signs of a reaction. A shellfish allergy is different from a fish allergy: one doesn't mean the other. In the US, food labels must name crustacean shellfish but not mollusks, so check with the maker if you're unsure. Clams can also carry toxins from algae blooms that cooking doesn't destroy (NHS, CDC). If your child has breathing trouble, swelling of the face, lips or tongue, seems confused, or becomes floppy after eating clams, call your emergency number. For vomiting, diarrhea, numbness or tingling, or if they seem unwell within a few hours of eating clams, get medical care right away.
Are clams healthy for babies?
A source of protein, vitamin B12, selenium and zinc: FoodData Central lists about 99 mcg of vitamin B12 per 100 g of cooked clams. Clams have some iron (about 2.8 mg per 100 g), but a 1 oz (28 g) toddler serving gives about 0.8 mg, and babies eat less, so they aren't a main iron food for babies.
When can babies eat clams?
From around 6 months, cooked until the shells open and minced finely. The CDC lists shellfish among the allergenic foods to introduce when you introduce other foods. The NHS says not to give babies raw or lightly cooked shellfish such as clams.
Can babies eat canned clams?
Yes. Canned clams are already cooked. Drain them, chop them finely, and heat them in your dish until steaming hot. FoodData Central lists much less sodium for drained canned clams than for clams cooked in the shell.
Can babies eat clams we dug ourselves?
Check local shellfish advisories first. The FDA says to check advisories for fish and shellfish caught by family or friends, and the NHS notes that shellfish can contain toxins that don't break down during cooking. If you're unsure, buy tagged clams from a shop.
Are clams high in mercury?
No. Clams are on the FDA's 'Best choices' list and among the seafood it names as even lower in mercury.
If your baby refuses clams
- Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
- Mix minced clams into foods your baby already likes, such as rice, pasta or mashed potato.
- Try clam cakes: they're easier to hold than loose pieces.
- If your baby keeps refusing clams and you're relying on them as an early allergen, mention it to your pediatrician.
Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.
Buying and storing clams
- Keep live clams in the fridge in a container that lets air in, not sealed and not in water, and cook them within 2 days.
- Cooked clams keep for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge. Rice dishes are the exception: cool them within 1 hour, keep them in the fridge for no more than 1 day, and reheat them only once.
- Clam cakes can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Reheat only once, to 165°F (74°C), until steaming hot, then let them cool before serving.
- Throw away any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it's hotter than 90°F / 32°C).
When to talk to your doctor
Contact your pediatrician, GP or health visitor if:
- Your baby has had any reaction to clams, even a mild one. Stop offering them, and talk to your pediatrician before trying other shellfish such as shrimp, mussels or scallops.
- You notice mild signs of an allergic reaction after eating, such as a few hives or a little vomiting. See signs of a reaction.
- You're worried about how much your baby eats, their growth, or they refuse most solid food for weeks.
Call 911999your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) now if your baby has trouble breathing, wheezing, can't cough or cry, has lips, mouth, tongue or throat that suddenly swell, or becomes pale, bluish, floppy or unresponsive. Also call if hives come with repeated vomiting.
Last offered today. Once clams is in your baby's diet, keep offering it regularly.
Add a note (likes, dislikes, any reaction)
Saved in this browser only. Think it was a reaction? See signs of an allergic reaction and when to get help.
Helpful guides
Sources
- FDA: Advice about eating fish
- FDA: Selecting and serving fresh and frozen seafood safely
- NHS: Fish and shellfish
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
- NHS: Salt in your diet
- CDC: When, what, and how to introduce solid foods
- CDC: Food poisoning from seafood
- ACAAI: Shellfish allergy
- AAP: Choking prevention for babies and children
- USDA FoodData Central: Clam, mixed species, cooked, moist heat
- USDA FoodData Central: Clam, mixed species, canned, drained solids
- NHS: Food labels
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
- Food Standards Agency: Home food fact checker
- NHS Best Start in Life: Storing and reheating food
- NHS: Help your baby enjoy new foods
More first foods
Free printable: The First 100 Foods checklist
Tick off foods as your baby tries them. Print it or save it as a PDF, no sign-up needed.