First foods database

🥬 Celery for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat celery? Yes, from about 6 months, cooked until soft. Celery adds gentle savoury flavour to soups and sauces, but it is one of the UK's 14 allergens and raw sticks are stringy, so introduce it carefully.

From 6 monthsAllergen: CeleryHigher choking risk: prepare carefully

Good source of: Vitamin K, Folate, Potassium, Fibre

How to serve celery by age

6 to 9 months

Cook celery until very soft and blend into soups, purées or sauces. Raw celery sticks are not suitable at this age.

9 to 12 months

Finely dice and cook celery into bolognese, stews and risotto so it melts into the dish.

12 months and up

Continue cooking it into meals. Raw celery can be offered to confident chewers once the strings are removed and it is cut into thin pieces.

Choking safety

Raw celery is hard and stringy and is a choking risk for babies. The fibres can sit across the throat, so peel off strings, cook until soft and chop finely or blend it.

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

Celery is a recognised allergen in the UK. Offer a small amount the first time and watch for any reaction.
Celery salt and some stock cubes contain celery and are high in salt.

Introducing it as an allergen

It contains celery, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce celery

Easy ideas

Celery, carrot and lentil soup
Soft diced celery in bolognese
Blended celery and potato soup

Goes well with

🥕CarrotFrom 6 months 🧅OnionFrom 6 months 🫘LentilsFrom 6 months 🥩Beef minceFrom 6 months

Recipes with celery

🍝Beef and red lentil baby bologneseFrom 6 months · Dinner · 50 min 🫒Greek-style baked butter beans with dillFrom 9 months · Dinner · 50 min 🍝Green lentil and mushroom bologneseFrom 7 months · Dinner · 55 min 🍲Lamb and lentil hariraFrom 7 months · Lunch · 75 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat celery?

Can babies have celery sticks?

Not raw ones. Celery sticks are a choking risk for babies and toddlers. Cook it until very soft instead.

Is celery an allergen for babies?

Yes, celery is one of the 14 allergens listed on UK food labels. Allergy is uncommon but introduce it in a small amount first.

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).