First foods database
🫛 Runner beans for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat runner beans? Yes, from about 6 months. Runner beans are a British summer favourite, and when strings are removed and the beans steamed soft they make great finger strips for little hands.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Fibre, Folate
How to serve runner beans by age
6 to 9 months
Remove the stringy edges, then slice into long strips and steam until very soft. Offer whole soft strips to hold. For purée, blend with potato or a little breast milk or formula, as runner beans can be fibrous.
9 to 12 months
Cut into shorter soft pieces for the pincer grip, or chop and stir into stews and pasta.
12 months and up
Sliced cooked runner beans as a side with family meals. Older runner beans can be stringy, so keep de-stringing.
Choking safety
The tough strings along the edges can be hard to chew and may cause gagging. Always de-string and cook until soft. Avoid raw beans.
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
- Choose young tender beans: older ones are stringier.
Easy ideas
- Steamed bean strips with unsalted butter
- Runner beans mashed into potato
- Chopped into a tomato stew
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat runner beans?
Can babies eat runner beans? Yes, from about 6 months. Runner beans are a British summer favourite, and when strings are removed and the beans steamed soft they make great finger strips for little hands.
Do I need to string runner beans for my baby?
Yes. The edges are fibrous and tough, so peel them off with a peeler or knife before cooking.
Can babies eat raw runner beans?
No. Raw runner beans contain lectins and are hard to chew. Always cook them well.
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).