First foods database
🥫 Tomato purée for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies have tomato purée? Yes, from about 6 months. Concentrated tomato purée adds rich flavour and colour to sauces, stews and lentils in small amounts, and most brands contain only tomatoes.
Good source of: Lycopene, Vitamin C, Vitamin A
How to serve tomato purée by age
6 to 9 months
Stir a teaspoon of tomato purée into red lentils, beef mince or vegetable purée while cooking, adding a little water to loosen. It gives depth without salt.
9 to 12 months
Use tomato purée as a base for pasta sauces and casseroles, or spread thinly on toast or pitta with grated mozzarella for a mini pizza.
12 months and up
Use it in family cooking for bolognese, chilli and stews. It is a better choice than ketchup or jarred sauces, which often contain added sugar and salt.
Choking safety
Tomato purée is a spread or sauce ingredient, so it carries little choking risk.
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
- Check labels: most tomato purée has no added salt, but passata and sauces vary.
- Ketchup is not the same and usually contains sugar and salt.
- Acidity can cause a mild red rash around the mouth.
Easy ideas
- Tomato and red lentil sauce
- Mini pitta pizza with tomato purée and mozzarella
- Tomato purée stirred into bolognese
Goes well with
Recipes with tomato purée
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat tomato purée?
Can babies have tomato purée? Yes, from about 6 months. Concentrated tomato purée adds rich flavour and colour to sauces, stews and lentils in small amounts, and most brands contain only tomatoes.
Is tomato purée the same as ketchup?
No. Tomato purée is just concentrated tomatoes, while ketchup has added sugar, salt and vinegar.
How long does tomato purée keep once opened?
Keep opened tubes in the fridge and use within a few weeks; tins should be decanted and used within a few days.
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).