First foods database

🎃 Butternut squash for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat butternut squash? Yes, from about 6 months. Its naturally sweet, soft orange flesh mashes smoothly and roasts into easy finger food, making it one of the gentlest first vegetables.

From 6 monthsLow choking risk when prepared well

Good source of: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Fibre, Potassium

How to serve butternut squash by age

6 to 9 months

Peel, deseed and steam or roast until it squashes easily between your fingers, then mash or blend with a little breast milk or formula. For finger food, roast long wedges or thick fingers (about the size of an adult finger) so baby can grip them in a fist.

9 to 12 months

Offer soft roasted cubes for practising the pincer grip, or stir lumpier mash through lentils, risotto or pasta. Leave some texture now so baby learns to chew.

12 months and up

Serve it as the family does: roasted chunks, squash soup, mixed into curries or baked into a cheesy pasta sauce.

Choking safety

Raw squash is hard and a choking risk, so always cook it until very soft. Check roasted edges have not gone crisp and chewy, and trim any tough bits of skin.

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

Easy ideas

Goes well with

🫘Red lentilsFrom 6 months🧀CheddarFrom 6 months · Milk🫘ChickpeasFrom 6 months🌿SageFrom 6 months

Recipes with butternut squash

🥣Aduki bean and squash congeeFrom 6 months · Dinner · 70 min🍲Batch cook chicken and butternut casserole cubesFrom 6 months · Dinner · 50 min🌮Black bean and squash cheesy quesadillasFrom 9 months · Lunch · 35 min🎃Butternut squash and thyme smooth puréeFrom 6 months · Dinner · 40 min🧡Butternut, sage and pea baby risottoFrom 7 months · Dinner · 40 min🎃First sesame tahini and butternut mashFrom 6 months · Lunch · 20 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat butternut squash?

Can babies eat butternut squash? Yes, from about 6 months. Its naturally sweet, soft orange flesh mashes smoothly and roasts into easy finger food, making it one of the gentlest first vegetables.

Can babies eat butternut squash skin?

The skin softens when roasted but can stay chewy. For young babies peel it, or scoop the flesh out of the skin after roasting.

Is butternut squash good for constipation?

It contains fibre and water, so it can help as part of a varied diet with plenty of fluids.

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).