First foods database
🥯 Bagel for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat bagels? Yes, from about 6 months, in small soft pieces. Bagels are dense and chewy, so a lightly toasted thin slice or a frozen bagel half for teething can work well, but check the salt and toppings.
Good source of: Carbohydrate, Iron, B vitamins
How to serve bagel by age
6 to 9 months
Slice a plain bagel thinly, toast lightly and cut into fingers with a thin spread of cream cheese or mashed avocado. A chilled bagel half can soothe sore gums, with supervision.
9 to 12 months
Small pieces of plain bagel with spreads.
12 months and up
Bagel halves with toppings such as cream cheese, egg or hummus.
Choking safety
Bagels are dense and chewy and can form a sticky lump. Slice thinly, toast and cut small. Avoid seeded bagels with whole hard seeds for young babies.
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
- Gluten is an allergen.
- Bagels can be salty and some contain sesame seeds.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains gluten, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce gluten
Easy ideas
- Bagel fingers with cream cheese
- Bagel with mashed egg
- Bagel half chilled for teething
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat bagel?
Can babies eat bagels? Yes, from about 6 months, in small soft pieces. Bagels are dense and chewy, so a lightly toasted thin slice or a frozen bagel half for teething can work well, but check the salt and toppings.
Can babies chew on frozen bagels?
A chilled or frozen bagel half can soothe gums. Stay close and take it away if soft pieces start to break off.
Are bagels salty?
Some are. Check labels and choose plain, lower-salt versions.
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).