When can babies eat swordfish?

Not before about 16 years old. Until then, offer safer swaps.

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Swordfish

Not for babies or children: it's high in mercury. Here's what to offer instead.

Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review

Quick answer

Wait until your child is at least 16 years old before offering swordfish. Until then, offer the safer swaps below.

From 16 yearsLow choking risk as servedAllergen: Fish

How to serve swordfish by age

Cutting photo goes here

6 months+

Not yet: low-mercury fish instead

Swordfish isn't for babies. The FDA lists it as a 'Choice to avoid' because it has the highest mercury levels, and the NHS says babies and children under 16 should avoid it. Offer salmon, cod or pollock instead, baked or poached to 145°F (63°C), with every bone and the skin removed.

Size: Instead of swordfish, offer large soft flakes of a low-mercury fish, or fish cakes shaped like a finger, about 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in).
Check before serving: Run your fingers through every flake of the swap fish to feel for bones. Cooked fish is opaque all the way through and flakes easily with a fork.

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.

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 swordfish

1
Don't cook swordfish for your baby or child. Choose a low-mercury fish instead, such as salmon, cod or pollock.
2
When the family has swordfish, cook your child's fish separately, and keep swordfish leftovers labeled so they don't end up in your child's meal.
3
Check labels and menus: fish steaks can look alike, so ask at the fish counter if you're not sure which fish it is.
4
Cook the swap fish to 145°F (63°C), until it's opaque and flakes easily, and feel every flake for bones.

How much to offer

None. Swordfish waits until at least 16 years (NHS). For ages 1 to 3, the FDA suggests 2 servings of fish a week from its 'Best choices' list, such as salmon, cod or pollock, about 1 oz (28 g) each. Your child decides how much to eat.

Common mistakes

Thinking a small piece is fine

Swordfish is on the avoid list because of mercury, which the NHS warns can affect a child's nervous system. Neither the FDA nor the NHS gives a safe amount for children, so leave it out completely.

Mixing it up with other fish steaks

Fish steaks can be hard to tell apart. Check the label or ask at the fish counter. Bigeye tuna is also on the FDA's 'Choices to avoid' list.

Forgetting the other high-mercury fish

The FDA's 'Choices to avoid' are king mackerel, marlin, orange roughy, shark, swordfish, tilefish from the Gulf of Mexico and bigeye tuna. The NHS names shark, swordfish and marlin for children under 16.

Sharing from adult plates

Grilled swordfish is common at restaurants and barbecues. Bring or order a low-mercury fish for your child, and ask older children not to share.

Where US and UK guidance differ on swordfish

United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting

The FDA lists swordfish as a 'Choice to avoid' because it has the highest mercury levels, and says parents and caregivers should not feed these fish to children. Its advice for children covers ages 1 to 11 and doesn't give an age when swordfish becomes fine. This page follows the NHS age of 16.

United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting

The NHS says all babies and children under 16 should avoid shark, swordfish and marlin, because the mercury in these fish can affect a child's nervous system. Adults who aren't pregnant or trying for a baby should have no more than 1 portion a week.

We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.

Questions parents ask

Can swordfish be a choking hazard for babies?

Swordfish is left out for children because of its mercury, not its texture. The low-mercury swaps, such as salmon and cod, are a low choking risk once cooked and flaked, but the CDC lists bones in fish as a choking hazard, so feel every flake before serving.

Can babies be allergic to swordfish?

Swordfish is a fish, and fish is a common allergen. Introduce fish with a low-mercury fish such as salmon or cod, on its own first, in a small amount, and watch for signs of a reaction. If your child reacts to any fish, talk to your pediatrician before offering other fish.

Is swordfish healthy for babies?

FoodData Central lists about 23 g of protein, 17 µg of vitamin D and 69 µg of selenium per 100 g of cooked swordfish, but its high mercury means it isn't for children. Low-mercury salmon and sardines provide omega-3 fats, and the NHS notes that oily fish are a good source of vitamin D.

Can babies eat swordfish?

No. The FDA lists swordfish as a 'Choice to avoid' because it has the highest mercury levels, and says parents and caregivers should not feed these fish to children. The NHS says all babies and children under 16 should avoid swordfish, shark and marlin.

My child ate some swordfish. Should I worry?

One serving isn't a reason to worry. The FDA says that if you've eaten or served a fish from its 'Choices to avoid' list, choose lower-mercury fish from then on and try to avoid feeding those fish to children.

Which fish can my child have instead?

Low-mercury 'Best choices' from the FDA list, such as salmon, cod, pollock, haddock, trout, sardines and canned light tuna. For ages 1 to 3, the FDA suggests about 1 oz (28 g) of fish, twice a week.

If your baby refuses swordfish

Swordfish isn't a food to offer yet, so there's nothing to keep trying.
If your child asks for swordfish when others are eating it, offer a low-mercury fish they already like, such as salmon or a fish cake.
Try a fish cake or soft fish taco with salmon or cod: they're easy to hold and share the family meal.
A calm 'this one is for grown-ups' works better than a long explanation.

Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.

Buying and storing swordfish

If you cook swordfish for adults, keep the leftovers in a covered, labeled container in the fridge so they don't end up in your child's meal.
Cooked swordfish kept for adults lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge. Reheat it only once, to 165°F (74°C), until steaming hot. Don't serve those leftovers to your child.
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:

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.

Offered swordfish?

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