First foods database
🥬 Rocket for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat rocket? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as it is chopped very finely, wilted or blended into a sauce. Its peppery, slightly bitter taste is a lovely way to widen your baby's palate early, and it brings folate, vitamin K and calcium.
Good source of: Vitamin K, Folate, Calcium
How to serve rocket by age
6 to 9 months
Raw leaves are thin and can stick to the roof of the mouth, so wilt rocket in a hot pan for 30 seconds and chop it very finely, or blitz it into sauces, mashed potato or vegetable purées. Stir a little into scrambled egg or ricotta.
9 to 12 months
Fold finely chopped rocket through pasta, risotto, omelette strips or bean mash. Rocket and ricotta spread on toast fingers lets your baby feed themselves.
12 months and up
Toddlers can try small torn pieces of raw rocket mixed into salads with softer foods such as cucumber and avocado, or scattered over pizza and pasta. Liking for bitter greens often grows with repeated tastes.
Choking safety
Whole leaves of rocket can cling to the back of the throat and cause gagging. For babies, wilt and chop finely or blend into food rather than offering whole raw leaves.
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
- Wash rocket well before using, even bagged leaves, and use it within a day or two of opening.
- Avoid shop-bought salads with dressings, which can be salty.
Easy ideas
- Rocket, ricotta and pea pasta sauce
- Finely chopped wilted rocket in scrambled egg
- Rocket and cannellini bean mash on toast fingers
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat rocket?
Can babies eat rocket? Yes, from about 6 months, as long as it is chopped very finely, wilted or blended into a sauce. Its peppery, slightly bitter taste is a lovely way to widen your baby's palate early, and it brings folate, vitamin K and calcium.
Is rocket too peppery for babies?
Many babies are surprised by it at first, then come round. Mix a little into a familiar food such as potato or egg, and offer it again on other days. Wilting also softens the pepperiness.
Can babies eat raw salad leaves?
Thin raw leaves are hard for young babies to manage. Chop them very finely or cook them until floppy. Small raw pieces mixed with other foods suit toddlers better.
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).