First foods database

🥕 Carrot for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat carrot? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as it is cooked until soft. Sweet, bright and easy to purée, carrot is one of the classic first vegetables and a great source of beta-carotene.

From 6 monthsHigher choking risk: prepare carefully

Good source of: Vitamin A (beta-carotene), Fibre, Potassium

How to serve carrot by age

6 to 9 months

Steam or boil peeled carrot until a knife slides through with no resistance, then purée or mash with a little of baby's usual milk. For finger food, offer whole cooked carrot sticks about the length of an adult finger, soft enough to squash between your finger and thumb.

9 to 12 months

Offer soft-cooked carrot batons or coins cut lengthways, roasted carrot wedges, or finely grated raw carrot stirred into porridge, yoghurt or fritters.

12 months and up

Serve cooked carrot pieces, grated raw carrot in salads and wraps, or carrot in family stews and soups. Thin raw carrot sticks are still a choking risk for toddlers, so keep raw carrot grated or very thinly ribboned.

Choking safety

Raw carrot is one of the most common choking foods for little ones because it is hard and snaps into firm chunks. Always cook it soft for babies, avoid round coins (cut sticks lengthways instead) and only offer raw carrot grated or as thin ribbons. Stay with baby and let them feed at their own pace.

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🥕ParsnipFrom 6 months🌿CuminFrom 6 months🫘ChickpeasFrom 6 months

Recipes with carrot

🧁Apple and carrot breakfast muffinsFrom 10 months · Breakfast · 35 min🍗Baby-friendly Sunday roast chicken dinnerFrom 7 months · Dinner · 110 min🧅Baked mixed veg pakora frittersFrom 9 months · Lunch · 35 min🥕Barley, root veg and butter bean hotpotFrom 7 months · Dinner · 65 min🍝Batch cook beef and red lentil baby bologneseFrom 7 months · Dinner · 55 min🌈Batch cook rainbow veg freezer cubesFrom 6 months · Lunch · 50 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat carrot?

Can babies eat carrot? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as it is cooked until soft. Sweet, bright and easy to purée, carrot is one of the classic first vegetables and a great source of beta-carotene.

Can babies eat raw carrot?

Only grated or in very thin ribbons. Raw carrot sticks and chunks are too hard and are a well known choking risk, so cook them soft until baby is much older.

Why has my baby's skin gone a bit orange?

Eating lots of beta-carotene from carrots and sweet potato can tint the skin slightly orange. It is harmless and fades when you mix up the vegetables.

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).