First foods database
🫛 Mangetout for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat mangetout? Yes, from about 6 months when steamed soft. These flat, sweet pea pods are easy to hold, though their strings can be fibrous, so a little preparation helps.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Fibre
How to serve mangetout by age
6 to 9 months
Top, tail and pull off the string along the edge, then steam until very soft. Blend into a purée with potato or peas, or offer whole soft pods as finger food for baby to gnaw. A few minutes longer in the steamer than you would cook them for adults makes them squashable.
9 to 12 months
Slice steamed pods into short pieces and stir into rice, noodles or pasta. Some babies enjoy them just lightly softened.
12 months and up
Serve lightly cooked in stir-fries, or raw and crunchy once your child chews confidently. Sugar snap peas can be offered the same way.
Choking safety
Raw mangetout snaps into crunchy pieces and the strings can catch, so cook it soft for babies and remove strings. Avoid raw pods until your child chews well. Supervise closely, as babies may bite through soft pods into small pieces.
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).
Easy ideas
- Mangetout and pea mash
- Mangetout in egg noodles
- Soft mangetout with salmon flakes
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat mangetout?
Can babies eat mangetout? Yes, from about 6 months when steamed soft. These flat, sweet pea pods are easy to hold, though their strings can be fibrous, so a little preparation helps.
Can babies eat mangetout raw?
Wait until your child chews well, usually around toddler age. Steam it for babies.
Do I need to remove the strings?
It helps. The strings are fibrous and can be hard for babies to manage.
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).