First foods database
🌿 Sage for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat sage? Yes, from about 6 months, in small amounts. Sage has a soft, earthy, slightly peppery flavour that pairs beautifully with butternut squash, pork, beans and potatoes, and adds interest to baby food without salt.
Good source of: Vitamin K, Antioxidants
How to serve sage by age
6 to 9 months
Cook a few chopped sage leaves with squash, sweet potato or cannellini beans, then blend or mash. Dried sage is stronger than fresh, so use only a pinch.
9 to 12 months
Stir a little finely chopped sage into pasta, risotto or a white bean mash, or mix it into pork or chicken meatballs.
12 months and up
Use sage in family dishes such as roast chicken, pork and sage burgers and homemade stuffing. Shop-bought stuffing mixes are salty, so homemade is best.
Choking safety
Whole sage leaves can be leathery or, when fried, crispy and brittle. Chop finely before cooking, or remove whole leaves before serving to babies.
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
- Shop-bought stuffing mixes are high in salt.
- Use culinary amounts only: herbal sage remedies and teas are not suitable for babies.
Easy ideas
- Butternut squash and sage mash
- Pork and sage meatballs
- Pasta with sage butter and peas
Goes well with
Recipes with sage
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat sage?
Can babies eat sage? Yes, from about 6 months, in small amounts. Sage has a soft, earthy, slightly peppery flavour that pairs beautifully with butternut squash, pork, beans and potatoes, and adds interest to baby food without salt.
Can babies eat sage leaves?
Yes, cooked and finely chopped. Gently softening the leaves in a little butter or oil makes them tender.
What does sage go well with in baby food?
It is lovely with squash, sweet potato, pork, chicken and white beans, and suits autumn and winter dishes.
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).