Broccoli is safe for babies from 6 months old. How you prepare it changes as your baby grows. Here is exactly what to do at each stage.
Choking risk: low
Low choking risk with appropriate preparation. Always supervise mealtimes.
Palmar grasp stage
Steam until very soft. Offer the whole floret - the stem acts as a natural handle. Baby will gum the top. Texture should be soft enough to squish easily.
At this age, babies grab food with their whole fist. Serve pieces long enough to poke out the top of their grip.
Shape and size
Cut into thick spears, roughly the width and length of an adult finger. The piece should stick out above their fist so they can gnaw on the exposed end.
How soft?
Cook until very soft. You should be able to mash it easily between your thumb and forefinger with almost no pressure.
Portion guide
Start with 1-2 spears per meal. Most of it will end up on the floor. That is normal and expected.
Pincer grasp developing
Soft steamed florets cut into smaller pieces. Can be mixed into eggs, pasta, or grains.
Babies start picking up smaller pieces between thumb and forefinger. You can offer smaller, bite-sized pieces alongside larger spears.
Shape and size
Offer a mix: some spears for fist-gripping, plus small pieces the size of a chickpea or blueberry for pincer grasp practice.
How soft?
Still soft, but can have slightly more texture than at 6 months. Think "can be mashed with tongue against the roof of the mouth."
Portion guide
2-3 tablespoons of prepared food per meal, offered alongside breastmilk or formula. Appetite varies day to day.
Toddler self-feeding
Roasted, steamed, raw (well-chewed), in soups, stir-fries, or pasta.
Toddlers can handle more textures and smaller pieces. Focus on variety and letting them practice with utensils.
Shape and size
Bite-sized pieces, roughly 1 cm cubes. Can also serve fork-friendly pieces that stay on a toddler fork when stabbed.
How soft?
Can be firmer than before but should still yield when bitten. Offer the same preparation the rest of the family is eating, just cut smaller.
Portion guide
About 1/4 cup per serving, though toddlers are unpredictable. Some days they eat everything, some days they eat nothing.
Cut into florets. Blanch for 3 minutes, transfer to an ice bath, drain well, then freeze in a single layer before bagging.
Blanch for 3 minutes before freezing. Keeps for up to 12 months frozen.
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