First foods database

🍚 Couscous for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat couscous? Yes, from about 6 months. Couscous is tiny pasta made from wheat, so it contains gluten, a common allergen. It cooks in minutes, soaks up sauces and vegetables, and its fine grainy texture is a good step on from smooth purées.

From 6 monthsAllergen: GlutenLow choking risk when prepared well

Good source of: Carbohydrate, Protein, Selenium

How to serve couscous by age

6 to 9 months

Pour just-boiled water over plain couscous (about 1.5 parts water to 1 part couscous), cover for 5 minutes, then fluff and mix with a smooth vegetable purée, mashed chickpeas or yoghurt. A slightly wetter mix is easier to swallow and to scoop. Babies can grab handfuls pressed into little balls.

9 to 12 months

Stir couscous through stews, lamb or chickpea tagines, or mix with grated courgette and cheese to make baked couscous bites. Roasted pepper and tomato also go well with it.

12 months and up

Offer couscous as a side to family meals, in salads with chopped soft vegetables, or as a base for curries. Wholewheat couscous adds extra fibre.

Choking safety

Couscous is low choking risk, but dry grains can make some babies cough. Mix it with a sauce, purée or a little oil so it holds together.

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

Contains gluten (wheat); introduce it in a small amount first.
Avoid flavoured couscous packets, which often contain stock and salt.

Introducing it as an allergen

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

Easy ideas

Couscous with chickpea and tomato stew
Baked couscous and courgette bites
Couscous with lamb, carrot and raisin tagine

Goes well with

🫘ChickpeasFrom 6 months 🍖LambFrom 6 months 🥒CourgetteFrom 6 months 🫑Red pepperFrom 6 months

Recipes with couscous

🍲Chickpea, cauliflower and apricot tagineFrom 7 months · Dinner · 50 min 🥘Lamb and apricot tagine for babiesFrom 7 months · Dinner · 105 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat couscous?

Is couscous gluten free?

No. Couscous is made from durum wheat, so it contains gluten. For a gluten-free alternative try quinoa or millet.

Is couscous good for babies?

Yes, it is a quick source of energy and some protein. Pair it with iron-rich foods such as lentils, chickpeas or meat to make a balanced meal.

How do I stop couscous going everywhere?

Mix it with a sauce or purée so it clumps, or press it into soft balls. Some mess is part of learning to eat.

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).