First foods database
🌾 Quinoa for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat quinoa? Yes, from about 6 months. Quinoa is a seed that cooks like a grain, with complete protein, some iron and fibre, and it is naturally gluten free. Cook it soft and bind it with other foods so the tiny grains are easier to manage.
Good source of: Protein, Iron, Magnesium, Fibre
How to serve quinoa by age
6 to 9 months
Rinse well, then cook in plenty of water until very soft and the little tails appear. Mash or blend into vegetable purées, or mix with egg and grated vegetables and bake into soft patties to hold.
9 to 12 months
Stir quinoa into stews, fold into omelettes or roll into soft balls with mashed sweet potato.
12 months and up
Quinoa in salads, grain bowls and as a swap for rice or couscous.
Choking safety
Loose quinoa can scatter around the mouth and cause gagging. For young babies, mix it into a sticky food or bind it into patties.
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
- Rinse before cooking to remove the bitter natural coating (saponins).
Easy ideas
- Quinoa and sweet potato patties
- Quinoa porridge with grated apple
- Quinoa with black beans and avocado
Goes well with
Recipes with quinoa
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat quinoa?
Can babies eat quinoa? Yes, from about 6 months. Quinoa is a seed that cooks like a grain, with complete protein, some iron and fibre, and it is naturally gluten free. Cook it soft and bind it with other foods so the tiny grains are easier to manage.
Is quinoa good for babies?
Yes. It contains protein, iron and fibre and is naturally gluten free.
How do I serve quinoa to a 6 month old?
Cook it until very soft, then mash or blend into purées, or bind into soft patties.
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).