First foods database
🍆 Aubergine for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat aubergine? Yes, from about 6 months. Roasted or stewed aubergine turns silky and soft, so it is easy to mash, and it soaks up gentle flavours like garlic, cumin and tomato.
Good source of: Fibre, Potassium, Manganese
How to serve aubergine by age
6 to 9 months
Roast or steam aubergine until completely soft, then mash or blend; it can be a little watery, so mix with potato, lentils or yoghurt. For finger food, roast thick strips with the skin on so baby has something to hold, and they can suck and gum the soft flesh.
9 to 12 months
Offer soft roasted cubes, baba ganoush style dips spread on toast fingers, or aubergine stirred into a lentil or tomato sauce.
12 months and up
Enjoy in family dishes such as moussaka, ratatouille, curries and pasta bakes.
Choking safety
Undercooked aubergine is spongy and chewy, so cook it until it is meltingly soft. The skin can be tough; remove it if baby struggles.
Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).
Good to know
- Shop-bought baba ganoush or ratatouille can be salty; homemade lets you skip the salt.
Easy ideas
- Roasted aubergine dip on toast fingers
- Aubergine and tomato sauce with pasta
- Aubergine, chickpea and cumin mash
Goes well with
Recipes with aubergine
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat aubergine?
Can babies eat aubergine? Yes, from about 6 months. Roasted or stewed aubergine turns silky and soft, so it is easy to mash, and it soaks up gentle flavours like garlic, cumin and tomato.
Can babies eat aubergine skin?
Yes, when well roasted it softens. If it stays chewy, scoop the flesh out instead.
Is aubergine safe for babies?
Yes, cooked aubergine is a safe first food. It is not eaten raw.
Sources
OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).