First foods database

🥕 Parsnip for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat parsnip? Yes, from about 6 months. Roasted or steamed parsnip is naturally sweet, mashes beautifully and makes an easy early vegetable that most babies take to quickly.

From 6 monthsTake care with shape and texture

Good source of: Fibre, Folate, Vitamin C, Potassium

How to serve parsnip by age

6 to 9 months

Peel, then steam or roast until a fork slides through with no resistance. Mash or blend with a little breast or formula milk, or offer finger-length wedges roasted soft enough to squash between your fingers.

9 to 12 months

Offer smaller soft-cooked batons or bite-sized pieces as the pincer grip develops. Mash into other root vegetables or stir through porridge-style mixes.

12 months and up

Serve roasted, mashed or in soups and stews alongside the family. Try parsnip fritters or grated parsnip baked into savoury muffins.

Choking safety

Raw parsnip is hard and can snap into chunks, so always cook it until very soft for young babies. Remove the woody core of large, older parsnips as it stays tough even after cooking.

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

🍎AppleFrom 6 months🫘Red lentilsFrom 6 months🥕CarrotFrom 6 months🍂CinnamonFrom 6 months

Recipes with parsnip

🍗Baby-friendly Sunday roast chicken dinnerFrom 7 months · Dinner · 110 min🥕Barley, root veg and butter bean hotpotFrom 7 months · Dinner · 65 min🥧Beef and carrot cottage pie for babiesFrom 7 months · Dinner · 70 min🥕Smooth carrot and parsnip first-taste puréeFrom 6 months · Lunch · 25 min🌿Soft roasted parsnip batons with thymeFrom 6 months · Dinner · 35 min🍄Venison and mushroom casseroleFrom 10 months · Dinner · 135 min

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.

Download for iPhoneGet it on Android

Questions parents ask

Can babies eat parsnip?

Can babies eat parsnip? Yes, from about 6 months. Roasted or steamed parsnip is naturally sweet, mashes beautifully and makes an easy early vegetable that most babies take to quickly.

Can babies have roast parsnips?

Yes. Roast without salt or honey until soft, then serve as wedges or mash. Honey glazes are not suitable before 12 months.

Do I need to peel parsnip for a baby?

Peeling is easiest at first because the skin can be a little tough. Well-scrubbed skin is fine later once your baby manages more texture.

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).