First foods database
🍃 Bay leaf for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies have food cooked with bay leaf? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as the whole leaf is removed before serving. Bay adds a gentle, savoury depth to stews, soups and sauces.
Good source of: Flavour
How to serve bay leaf by age
6 to 9 months
Add one bay leaf to a pan of soup, stew, lentils or rice while cooking, then remove it before mashing or blending. Do not blend the leaf into the food, as it stays tough and sharp.
9 to 12 months
Use bay leaf in bolognese, chicken casserole or bean stews. Remove it before serving and check no broken pieces remain.
12 months and up
Keep removing bay leaves before serving. Older children can help count them in and out of the pot.
Choking safety
Bay leaves stay stiff and sharp even after long cooking and can scratch or lodge in the throat. Remove them before serving. Count how many you add and make sure you take the same number out.
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
- Always remove whole bay leaves before serving.
- Stock cubes often added alongside bay are high in salt; use low-salt stock or water.
Easy ideas
- Chicken and vegetable stew cooked with a bay leaf
- Red lentil soup with bay
- Rice cooked with a bay leaf for flavour
Goes well with
Recipes with bay leaf
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat bay leaf?
Can babies have food cooked with bay leaf? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as the whole leaf is removed before serving. Bay adds a gentle, savoury depth to stews, soups and sauces.
Can babies eat bay leaves?
No, the leaves themselves should not be eaten. Use them for flavour and remove them before serving.
Is ground bay leaf safe for babies?
A small pinch of finely ground bay is fine in cooking. Whole or broken leaves should always be removed.
How many bay leaves should I use?
One leaf is enough for a pan of soup or stew serving the family.
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).