How to Add Olive Oil to Baby Food

When your baby starts transitioning to solid foods, one of the first questions that may come to mind is: "Can I add olive oil, and if so, when and how much?" The short answer: yes, you can — and you should.

This guide is based on recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the European Society for Paediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN).

When Can You Start?

According to the joint recommendations of WHO and AAP, the introduction of solid foods can begin from 6 months of age. Olive oil is one of the fats that can be safely used during this process — in fact, ESPGHAN's 2017 nutrition guidelines recommend that vegetable oils added to baby foods be particularly rich in monounsaturated fatty acids (oleic acid). Olive oil, with an oleic acid content of 70–80%, is one of the oils that best meets this criterion.

How Much Can Be Added?

• 6–8 months: 1–2 teaspoons per day (2–5 ml) — mixed into purees
• 9–12 months: 1–2 dessert spoons per day (5–10 ml)
• Over 1 year: Can be added freely to meals

These amounts are consistent with the solid food guidelines published on AAP's "Healthy Children" platform.

Which Olive Oil Should You Choose?

For baby food, organic, cold-pressed, extra virgin olive oil should be preferred. Refined or blended olive oils lose their phenolic compounds during processing — a difference that matters for your baby.

Olive Reserve's Olizzi Baby Organic Baby Olive Oil is organically certified and cold-pressed — specially produced for baby foods, offering a mild aromatic profile.

Practical Recipes

Carrot and Sweet Potato Puree (6+ months)

• 2 medium carrots, boiled
• 1 small sweet potato, boiled
• 1 teaspoon organic baby olive oil
• 2–3 tablespoons water or breast milk

Blend all ingredients until smooth. Add olive oil last — do not reheat after adding.

Broccoli and Pea Puree (7+ months)

• 1 cup broccoli
• ½ cup peas (can be frozen)
• 1 teaspoon organic baby olive oil

Steam for 8 minutes, blend, stir in olive oil. Check serving temperature before feeding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can olive oil cause allergies in babies?
Olive oil allergy is extremely rare. AAP's current guidelines classify olive oil among low-allergenic foods.

Can it be added during cooking?
Yes, but to preserve nutritional value, adding it after cooking is preferred when possible.

Sources

• World Health Organization — Complementary Feeding: Family Foods for Breastfed Children, 2000
• American Academy of Pediatrics — Starting Solid Foods, HealthyChildren.org, 2023
• ESPGHAN Committee on Nutrition — Complementary Feeding: A Position Paper, JPGN, 2017