First foods database
🟢 Split peas for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat split peas? Yes, from about 6 months. Yellow or green split peas cook down into a thick, creamy purée with no peeling or skins to worry about, making them a cheap and easy source of plant protein and iron.
Good source of: Protein, Fibre, Iron, Folate
How to serve split peas by age
6 to 9 months
Rinse, then simmer split peas in unsalted water for 40 to 60 minutes until they collapse into a mush (no soaking needed). Blend smooth or leave lumpy, and loosen with breast milk, formula or water. Thick split pea purée can be spread on toast fingers.
9 to 12 months
Offer thicker split pea dal, soups or fritters, or stir the mash through rice.
12 months and up
Serve family dishes such as chana dal style curries, pea soup or split pea patties.
Choking safety
Well-cooked split peas are soft and low in choking risk. Undercooked peas stay hard, so cook until completely 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
- Avoid ham hock in split pea soup for babies; it is very salty.
- Serve with vitamin C foods to boost iron absorption.
Easy ideas
- Yellow split pea dal with rice
- Green split pea and carrot soup
- Split pea mash on toast fingers
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat split peas?
Can babies eat split peas? Yes, from about 6 months. Yellow or green split peas cook down into a thick, creamy purée with no peeling or skins to worry about, making them a cheap and easy source of plant protein and iron.
Do split peas need soaking?
No, they cook without soaking, though rinsing helps.
Can split peas cause wind in babies?
Pulses can cause a little wind. Start with small amounts and build up.
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).