Can Babies Eat Mint?
By Sarah, founder of SowAndSpoon · Reviewed April 2026
Yes, safe from 6 months
Choking risk: low
Mint leaves are thin and soft. They break apart easily and pose very little choking risk when torn or mixed into food.
Not a common allergen
Babies can eat mint from 6 months. Mint provides vitamin A, iron, and manganese. It can also help soothe mild digestive discomfort, which is common as babies adjust to new foods.
This guide covers fresh mint. Dried herbs have a more concentrated flavor; if using dried, start with a very small pinch mixed into food for babies under 12 months.
Flavor guide
Fresh mint has a bright, cool, intensely aromatic flavor with a menthol tingle that dissipates immediately in heat. Raw, it is sharp and refreshing; stirred into warm food it softens into a gentle herbal sweetness without the cooling bite. It pairs naturally with peas, yogurt, watermelon, cucumber, banana, lemon, and lamb.
How to Prepare Mint by Age
Add a tiny amount of finely minced mint to yogurt, fruit purees, or soft foods. Very potent - use sparingly.
Serving ideas:
- -Muddle a few leaves into mashed banana
- -Blend into a pea puree for a fresh twist
- -Stir torn leaves into plain yogurt
As a flavor ingredient in appropriate dishes.
Serving ideas:
- -Mix finely torn mint into cucumber yogurt dip
- -Stir into mashed watermelon chunks
- -Add to a fruit smoothie with banana and spinach
Mint in fruit salads, yogurt, teas, sauces.
Serving ideas:
- -Toss into a watermelon and cucumber salad
- -Mix into tabbouleh with soft couscous
- -Blend into a strawberry mint smoothie
Mint Pairs Well With
For balanced baby meals, try combining mint with:
Pea and Mint Yogurt Bowl
From 6 monthsIngredients
- -1/2 cup frozen peas
- -4 fresh mint leaves
- -3 tbsp full-fat plain yogurt
- -1 tsp olive oil
Steps
- Steam peas for 5 minutes until completely soft.
- Mash peas with a fork until smooth with some texture remaining.
- Tear mint leaves and stir into the warm peas so the heat releases the aroma.
- Let cool to room temperature, then stir in yogurt and olive oil.
- For 6-8 months, blend smooth or serve as a thick mash on a preloaded spoon. For 9 months and older, leave the mash textured.
Yogurt is a dairy allergen. If dairy has not been introduced, substitute with breast milk or formula to thin the mash.
Growing Mint at Home
Extremely invasive - grow in a container or it will take over. Perennial.
Ready in ~90-100 days from planting.
Mint grows aggressively, so plant it in a pot rather than a garden bed. One pot will keep you supplied all season.
Per AAP and WHO guidelines, most fruits, vegetables, and herbs can be introduced from 6 months as part of complementary feeding. Always consult your pediatrician before introducing new foods, especially allergens.