First foods database

🫚 Ginger for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat ginger? Yes, from about 6 months, in small amounts. A little finely grated fresh ginger or a pinch of ground ginger adds gentle warmth to purées, porridge and curries, helping your baby get used to new flavours without salt or sugar.

From 6 monthsLow choking risk when prepared well

Good source of: Antioxidants, Flavour

How to serve ginger by age

6 to 9 months

Add a tiny pinch of ground ginger, or about a quarter teaspoon of finely grated fresh ginger, to carrot, sweet potato, apple or pear while cooking, then blend or mash.

9 to 12 months

Use ginger gently in lentil dishes, mild curries, stir-fries and baked oats. Fresh ginger tastes brighter and milder than ground, which can be quite strong.

12 months and up

Cook with ginger in family meals. Ginger biscuits, ginger beer and crystallised ginger are high in sugar, so are not everyday foods for toddlers.

Choking safety

Pieces of fresh ginger are fibrous and hard to chew. Grate finely on a microplane or use ground ginger, and remove any slices used to flavour a dish 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

Use small amounts at first: strong flavours can be a surprise.
Ginger biscuits and crystallised ginger are sugary.

Easy ideas

Carrot and ginger purée
Pear and ginger porridge
Mild ginger chicken with rice

Goes well with

🥕CarrotFrom 6 months 🍐PearFrom 6 months 🍠Sweet potatoFrom 6 months 🍗ChickenFrom 6 months

Recipes with ginger

🥣Aduki bean and squash congeeFrom 6 months · Dinner · 70 min 🍲Baby-friendly Moroccan lamb and apricot tagineFrom 7 months · Dinner · 105 min 🧅Baked mixed veg pakora frittersFrom 9 months · Lunch · 35 min 🍛Batch cook mild chickpea and spinach curryFrom 7 months · Dinner · 35 min 🍌Black-eyed bean and plantain stewFrom 9 months · Dinner · 50 min 🥞Cabbage and tofu okonomiyaki pancakesFrom 9 months · Lunch · 35 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat ginger?

Is ginger safe for babies?

Yes, in small amounts in cooking from about 6 months. It is one of many spices that can help widen your baby's taste range.

Can ginger help with baby wind or colic?

There is no good evidence that it treats wind or colic in babies, so enjoy it simply for its flavour. Speak to your health visitor if your baby seems uncomfortable.

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).