First foods database
🥬 Pak choi for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat pak choi? Yes, from about 6 months. This tender Chinese cabbage softens quickly and its mild, juicy stems make an easy green vegetable for babies.
Good source of: Vitamin A, Vitamin C, Calcium, Folate
How to serve pak choi by age
6 to 9 months
Steam until the stems are soft and the leaves wilted, then blend or chop finely into rice, noodles or mash. Babies can also hold a whole steamed stem (base attached) to gnaw; remove any loose leaves that could stick to the palate. Baby pak choi is especially tender and quick to cook.
9 to 12 months
Chop cooked pak choi into small pieces and mix through egg-fried rice made without soy sauce, noodles or tofu dishes.
12 months and up
Add to stir-fries, noodle soups and dumplings in family meals. Older toddlers may enjoy it lightly cooked with a little bite.
Choking safety
Wilted leaves can cling to the roof of the mouth, so chop them small. Make sure stems are soft, not crunchy. Trim the hard base if it has not softened.
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
- Skip soy sauce for babies, or use a tiny amount of low-salt soy in family dishes.
Easy ideas
- Pak choi and ginger rice
- Steamed pak choi with tofu
- Noodles with pak choi and egg
Goes well with
Recipes with pak choi
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat pak choi?
Can babies eat pak choi? Yes, from about 6 months. This tender Chinese cabbage softens quickly and its mild, juicy stems make an easy green vegetable for babies.
Can babies eat raw pak choi?
Cook it for babies so the stems are soft; raw stems are crunchy.
Is pak choi the same as bok choy?
Yes, they are names for the same vegetable.
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).