First foods database
🥬 Swiss chard for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat Swiss chard? Yes, from about 6 months. This leafy green is rich in vitamin K and contains plant iron, and when cooked it becomes soft and mild enough to blend into first meals.
Good source of: Vitamin K, Iron, Magnesium, Vitamin A
How to serve swiss chard by age
6 to 9 months
Remove tough stems, steam or wilt the leaves and blend into potato, lentils or pasta sauce. Large cooked leaves can be offered whole to hold and munch. Rainbow chard tastes the same as white-stemmed chard, it just looks prettier on the plate.
9 to 12 months
Finely chop cooked leaves into omelettes, risotto, dal and pasta.
12 months and up
Add chopped chard to family stews, soups, frittatas and stir-fries.
Choking safety
Cooked leafy greens can clump into a sticky ball in the mouth. Chop finely or blend into other foods, and cook stems until fully soft or leave them out. Large raw leaves are not suitable for 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
- Leafy greens contain natural nitrates. NHS advice is that these are fine as part of a varied diet; just vary your vegetables.
Easy ideas
- Chard and potato mash
- Chard and lentil dal
- Mini chard frittata fingers
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat swiss chard?
Can babies eat Swiss chard? Yes, from about 6 months. This leafy green is rich in vitamin K and contains plant iron, and when cooked it becomes soft and mild enough to blend into first meals.
Can babies eat chard stems?
Yes, if they are cooked until soft and chopped finely. They are firmer than the leaves, so many parents start with leaves only.
Is chard a good source of iron?
It contains non-haem (plant) iron. Pair it with a vitamin C food like tomato or pepper to help absorption. Chard also provides vitamin K and magnesium.
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).