First foods database
🧅 Onion for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat onion? Yes, from about 6 months. Cooked onion adds gentle sweetness and flavour to baby meals without any salt, so it is a great base for sauces, stews and curries for the whole family.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Fibre, Vitamin B6
How to serve onion by age
6 to 9 months
Cook onion slowly in a little oil until soft and sweet, then blend into purées or sauces. Large soft wedges of roasted red or white onion can be offered as a finger food, though most babies prefer it inside other dishes.
9 to 12 months
Finely chop cooked onion into lentil dishes, mince, omelettes and rice. Soft, sweet onion is easy to chew.
12 months and up
Cooked onion in family meals. Small amounts of finely chopped raw onion in dips like salsa are fine for toddlers, though the sharp taste may not appeal.
Choking safety
Cooked soft onion is low risk. Raw onion rings and chunks are firm and slippery, so keep to cooked onion for babies.
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 onion instead of salt or stock cubes for flavour.
Easy ideas
- Caramelised onion stirred into mash
- Onion and tomato base for lentils
- Roasted onion wedges with vegetables
Goes well with
Recipes with onion
Weaning with OBubba
Log first foods in seconds. OBubba spots the allergens for you.
Track every food your baby has tried, see reactions over time, and let OBubba gently pace new allergens one at a time. Free to download.
Questions parents ask
Can babies eat onion?
Can babies eat onion? Yes, from about 6 months. Cooked onion adds gentle sweetness and flavour to baby meals without any salt, so it is a great base for sauces, stews and curries for the whole family.
Can babies eat raw onion?
It is best cooked for babies. Raw onion is strong and crunchy; small amounts finely chopped are fine for older toddlers.
Does onion upset babies' tummies?
Some babies get a little windy, but cooked onion is generally well tolerated.
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).