First foods database

🌿 Lemongrass for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies have lemongrass? Yes, from about 6 months lemongrass can be used to flavour baby's food. It gives a fresh, citrus fragrance to broths, curries and rice, but the woody stalk itself is too tough to eat and should be removed.

From 6 monthsHigher choking risk: prepare carefully

Good source of: Manganese, Iron

How to serve lemongrass by age

6 to 9 months

Bruise a stalk with the back of a knife and simmer it in coconut milk, broth or rice, then lift it out before blending or serving. The tender inner core can be very finely grated or blended into a curry paste and cooked into food.

9 to 12 months

Use lemongrass in family Thai and Vietnamese style dishes, such as a mild coconut chicken curry or noodle broth, removing the stalks before serving baby's portion.

12 months and up

Keep using it as a flavour in family cooking, always taking out tough pieces.

Choking safety

Lemongrass stalks are woody and fibrous, and chunks can be hard to chew and swallow. Remove whole stalks before serving, and only use finely grated or blended tender core in food.

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

🍗ChickenFrom 6 months🥥Coconut milkFrom 6 months🍚RiceFrom 6 months🫚GingerFrom 6 months

Recipes with lemongrass

🥥Mild coconut beef rendang for toddlersFrom 12 months · Dinner · 165 min🥥Mild coconut fish curry with pollockFrom 9 months · Dinner · 30 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat lemongrass?

Can babies have lemongrass? Yes, from about 6 months lemongrass can be used to flavour baby's food. It gives a fresh, citrus fragrance to broths, curries and rice, but the woody stalk itself is too tough to eat and should be removed.

Is lemongrass safe for babies?

Yes, as a flavour cooked into food with the stalk removed.

Can babies eat lemongrass paste?

Yes, a plain lemongrass paste cooked into food is fine; check labels for added salt.

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).