First foods database
🧄 Garlic for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat garlic? Yes, from about 6 months garlic can be cooked into baby's food. It is a lovely way to add flavour without salt and gets baby used to family meals early.
Good source of: Manganese, Vitamin B6, Vitamin C
How to serve garlic by age
6 to 9 months
Cook garlic gently in a little oil and stir it into purées, lentils, vegetables or sauces. Roasted garlic turns soft and sweet and can be squeezed into mash. One small clove flavours a whole family pot.
9 to 12 months
Keep adding garlic to shared meals: pasta sauces, stews, dal, and roasted vegetables.
12 months and up
Use it freely in family cooking. Garlic bread is fine occasionally but tends to be salty and buttery.
Choking safety
Garlic is used in small amounts, so it is rarely a choking concern. Avoid whole roasted cloves that have gone crisp, and mash any soft cloves before serving.
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
- Raw garlic tastes very strong to babies; cooked garlic is gentler.
Easy ideas
- Roasted garlic squeezed into potato mash
- Garlic and tomato lentils
- Garlicky yoghurt dip with vegetable sticks
Goes well with
Recipes with garlic
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat garlic?
Can babies eat garlic? Yes, from about 6 months garlic can be cooked into baby's food. It is a lovely way to add flavour without salt and gets baby used to family meals early.
How much garlic can I give my baby?
There is no set amount. A clove or two cooked into a family dish is typical.
Can garlic upset a baby's tummy?
Some babies may be a bit windy after strongly flavoured food. Start with small amounts in cooking.
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).