First foods database

🫑 Red pepper for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat red pepper? Yes, from about 6 months. Sweeter than green pepper and one of the richest vegetable sources of vitamin C, red pepper helps your baby absorb iron from foods like beans and lentils.

From 6 monthsTake care with shape and texture

Good source of: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Vitamin B6, Fibre

How to serve red pepper by age

6 to 9 months

Roast or steam until very soft, peel off the skin if it is tough, then purée or mash. For finger food, offer roasted strips about the width of two fingers that are soft and floppy.

9 to 12 months

Serve soft roasted strips or finely chopped cooked pepper in omelettes, pasta sauces and rice dishes.

12 months and up

Offer cooked pepper in family meals. Thin raw strips can be offered once your child chews well, ideally cut into thin slivers.

Choking safety

Raw pepper is crunchy and can break into hard pieces, and the skin can be slippery. For babies, roast or steam it until soft and remove tough skin. Avoid small raw chunks.

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

🍅TomatoFrom 6 months🥚EggFrom 6 months · Egg🫘ChickpeasFrom 6 months🍝PastaFrom 6 months · Gluten

Recipes with red pepper

🍅Baby friendly shakshukaFrom 9 months · Breakfast · 35 min🍅Baby-friendly West African jollof riceFrom 7 months · Dinner · 55 min🥢Baked sesame tofu fingersFrom 6 months · Lunch · 35 min🌈Batch cook rainbow veg freezer cubesFrom 6 months · Lunch · 50 min🍌Black-eyed bean and plantain stewFrom 9 months · Dinner · 50 min🫘Butter bean, red pepper and tomato stewFrom 6 months · Dinner · 35 min

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Questions parents ask

Can babies eat red pepper?

Can babies eat red pepper? Yes, from about 6 months. Sweeter than green pepper and one of the richest vegetable sources of vitamin C, red pepper helps your baby absorb iron from foods like beans and lentils.

Can babies eat pepper skin?

Cooked skin is safe but can be thin and papery. Peeling roasted peppers makes them easier for new eaters.

Is red pepper good for iron absorption?

Yes. Its vitamin C helps the body absorb the iron in plant foods, so it is a great partner for beans, lentils and fortified cereals.

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).