First foods database
🌱 Rhubarb for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat rhubarb? Yes, from about 6 months, cooked. Rhubarb is very tart, so it pairs well with sweet fruit rather than added sugar.
Good source of: Vitamin K, Calcium, Fibre
How to serve rhubarb by age
6 to 9 months
Stew chopped rhubarb stalks with apple or pear until soft, then purée. Only use the stalks. Stewed rhubarb is very tart, so a little goes a long way blended with sweet apple or pear.
9 to 12 months
Offer stewed rhubarb stirred into yoghurt or porridge, or soft pieces mixed with other fruit. Add stewed rhubarb to porridge with a little mashed banana for natural sweetness.
12 months and up
Serve stewed rhubarb with custard or yoghurt, or in crumbles made with less sugar. A crumble topping made with oats, butter and a little flour works well with reduced sugar.
Choking safety
Cooked rhubarb is soft and low risk. Raw rhubarb is stringy and very sour. Remove any stringy fibres that do not break down.
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
- Never use rhubarb leaves; they are poisonous.
- Sweeten with fruit rather than sugar.
Easy ideas
- Rhubarb and apple compote
- Rhubarb with yoghurt
- Rhubarb and strawberry crumble
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat rhubarb?
Can babies eat rhubarb? Yes, from about 6 months, cooked. Rhubarb is very tart, so it pairs well with sweet fruit rather than added sugar.
Are rhubarb leaves safe?
No. The leaves contain high levels of oxalic acid. Use the stalks only. Throw them away and only use the pink or green stalks.
Can I give my baby rhubarb without sugar?
Yes. Stewing it with apple, pear or banana gives sweetness. Babies often enjoy tart flavours more than adults expect.
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).