First foods database
🥬 Brussels sprouts for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat Brussels sprouts? Yes, from about 6 months. Cooked until soft and halved or quartered, sprouts are a good way to get babies used to stronger green flavours early, which makes later fussiness less likely.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Folate, Fibre
How to serve brussels sprouts by age
6 to 9 months
Steam or roast sprouts until very soft all the way through. Cut them into quarters lengthways, or flatten halves with a fork so baby can hold and mash them. For purée, blend with a sweeter vegetable such as parsnip or sweet potato.
9 to 12 months
Quarter cooked sprouts or shred them finely and mix through mashed potato or pasta. Roasted sprouts with a little olive oil have a milder, sweeter flavour.
12 months and up
Halved cooked sprouts are fine for confident chewers. Shredded raw sprouts in salad are better saved for older children.
Choking safety
Whole sprouts are round and firm, a similar size and shape to a choking hazard. Never serve them whole to babies and young children: cook soft and quarter, shred or mash.
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
- Strong taste: pair with sweeter vegetables at first.
- Can cause wind in some babies.
Easy ideas
- Roasted sprout quarters with olive oil
- Bubble and squeak with potato
- Sprouts mashed with parsnip
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat brussels sprouts?
Can babies eat Brussels sprouts? Yes, from about 6 months. Cooked until soft and halved or quartered, sprouts are a good way to get babies used to stronger green flavours early, which makes later fussiness less likely.
Can babies eat Brussels sprouts at Christmas?
Yes. Set some aside before adding salt, bacon or butter sauces, cook them very soft and serve quartered.
Why does my baby pull a face at sprouts?
Bitter flavours are new, and faces are normal. Keep offering small amounts alongside foods they like: it can take many tries.
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).