Since when?

Fish is considered one of the foods that can be introduced along with other weaning foods around 6 months of age.
However, there are no clear recommendations regarding the specific order of fish types or the specific timing for starting sashimi and fish roe.
The U.S. dietary guidelines report indicates that protein foods, including fish, are among the foods that can be introduced as part of a baby's diet.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends starting solid foods around 6 months of age and considers iron and protein-rich foods such as meat, poultry, and fish to be good choices for starting solids.

White fish, red fish, blue-backed fish

🔸Medical literature does not provide a clear recommendation regarding the order of white fish, red fish, and oily fish.
🔸Therefore, it is not possible to determine the order, such as "always start with white fish," "red fish from month X," and "oily fish from month Y," based on literature.
What's important is not the type of fish, butHeat thoroughly.Remove bones and shape it to match the baby's age.
When trying a new food for the first time, start with a small amount and monitor your body's reaction afterward.

Should I delay foods I'm worried about for allergies?

🔸The idea has been presented that there is no need to delay the introduction of foods that may cause allergies for preventative purposes.
Foods such as peanuts, tree nuts, eggs, soybeans, and shellfish are said to be introducible around 6 months of age along with other baby foods.
However, if you already suspect food allergies or have severe eczema, do not proceed with self-treatment and consult a doctor.

When did sashimi become a thing?

There are no clear recommendations on the specific age to give raw fish, such as sashimi, to infants.
🔸However, unpasteurized foods, etc., are mentioned as foods that are not safe for infants.
Taking this way of thinking into account, it is safest to avoid raw fish during infancy and early childhood due to the risk of bacteria and parasites, and to primarily use cooked fish.
Regarding when sashimi can be eaten, it is not possible to definitively state "it is safe from what age" based on literature.

What about fish roe like salmon roe and pollock roe?

No clear medical recommendations have been found regarding the introduction of fish roe such as salmon roe and pollock roe.
🔸Fish roe is considered a type of seafood, but there is no clear standard on whether it can be handled the same way as regular cooked fish.
Processed fish roe products like tarako and mentaiko are high in salt, making them unsuitable for infants and toddlers.
Also, granular fish roe, such as ikura, requires caution due to the risk of choking.
🔸Fish products containing roe may contain histamine, and there are reports that infants and young children may have a lower ability to break down histamine than adults.
🔸Therefore, it's not necessary to force fish roe into a baby's diet during the weaning period, and it's best to consider it carefully if you do decide to introduce it.

Summary

Fish can be introduced as baby food around 6 months of age.
There is no clear recommendation in the literature regarding the order of white fish, red fish, and oily fish.
When feeding fish, ensure it is thoroughly cooked, deboned, and cut into a size appropriate for the baby's age.
🔸Avoid raw fish like sashimi for infants and toddlers; prioritize cooked fish.
🔸Fish roe such as salmon roe and pollock roe require caution due to salt content, choking hazards, and histamine, with no clear criteria for when to introduce them.
After eating, if you experience symptoms such as hives, coughing, vomiting, pale complexion, or difficulty breathing, please consult a medical institution.

References

1. Arnold MJ, Harding MC, Conley AT. Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025: Recommendations From the U.S. Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services. American Family Physician. 2021;104(5):533-536.
2. Meek JY, Noble L. Technical Report: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics. 2022.
3. Fewtrell M, Bronsky J, Campoy C, et al. Complementary Feeding: A Position Paper by the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition Committee on Nutrition. Journal of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition. 2017.
4. Buczkowska M, Szczyrba A, Szajnoga D, et al. The Factors Influencing the Concentration of Histamine in Jarred Baby Foods Containing Fish, Considering Evaluation of Daily Histamine Intake. Journal of Food Protection. 2024.
5. Lin P, Nan FH, Ling MP. Dietary Exposure of the Taiwan Population to Mercury Content in Various Seafood Assessed by a Total Diet Study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 2021.
6. Chang CH, Chiang CF, Liao JW, et al. Dietary Exposure Assessment of Methylmercury and Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids in Saltwater Fish and Processed Foods Among Taiwanese Women of Child-Bearing Age and Children. Chemosphere. 2021.
7. Capodiferro M, Marco E, Grimalt JO. Wild Fish and Seafood Species in the Western Mediterranean Sea With Low Safe Mercury Concentrations. Environmental Pollution. 2022.