First foods database
🍜 Soba noodles for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat soba noodles? Yes, from about 6 months. Soba are Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour, usually mixed with wheat, and they have a nutty, earthy flavour that makes a nice change from pasta.
Good source of: Carbohydrate, Manganese, Protein
How to serve soba noodles by age
6 to 9 months
Cook until very soft, rinse, then cut into short pieces. Mix with puréed vegetables or a mild sauce made with smooth peanut butter or tahini thinned with water.
9 to 12 months
Serve short, soft noodles in a mild broth, or tossed with soft cooked vegetables and shredded chicken or tofu.
12 months and up
Offer soba in family stir-fries and cold noodle salads with cucumber and edamame. Leave out soy sauce, or use a tiny amount of low-salt soy for older toddlers.
Choking safety
Long noodles can be slurped and gagged on. Cut into short lengths for babies, and cook until very soft.
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
- Most soba contain wheat (gluten): check the label.
- Some dried noodles contain added salt.
Introducing it as an allergen
It contains gluten, one of the 14 major allergens. How to introduce gluten
Easy ideas
- Soba with tofu and broccoli
- Soba with shredded chicken and peas
- Cold soba salad with edamame for toddlers
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat soba noodles?
Can babies eat soba noodles? Yes, from about 6 months. Soba are Japanese noodles made from buckwheat flour, usually mixed with wheat, and they have a nutty, earthy flavour that makes a nice change from pasta.
Are soba noodles gluten-free?
Only if made from 100% buckwheat. Most supermarket soba contain wheat flour too.
Can babies eat buckwheat?
Yes, from about 6 months. Despite its name, buckwheat is not related to wheat and is naturally gluten-free.
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).