Onions overview

How to Prepare Onions for Baby

Onions 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.

Flavor guide

Raw onions are pungent, sharp, and sulfurous, with a crisp bite that is completely inappropriate for babies and too intense for most adults to eat in volume. Long, slow cooking transforms them: sauteed for 15 minutes they become soft and mellow, caramelized for 40 minutes they turn deeply sweet and almost jammy with a rich savory depth. They pair naturally with butter, potato, lentils, tomato, thyme, aged cheese, and egg.

1

6 to 8 months

Use as a flavor ingredient - caramelize or roast until very soft. Not a standalone food at this age. Mix into other dishes for flavor.

Serving ideas

  • -Saute diced onion in butter over low heat until very soft and translucent, about 15 minutes, then stir into any puree or mashed vegetable as a savory flavor base.
  • -Blend caramelized onions into tomato soup, squash puree, or lentil soup for a depth that makes simple purees taste far more complex.
  • -Add very soft sauteed onion to mashed potato with butter and a little cheese for a savory first food babies often love.
2

9 to 11 months

Well-cooked soft onion can be offered as a finger food. Caramelized onion on toast or in eggs.

Serving ideas

  • -Dice soft-cooked onion and mix into pasta, rice, or scrambled eggs.
  • -Add sauteed onion to mild stews, curries, or lentil dishes as the flavor base.
  • -Stir finely chopped cooked onion into mashed potato with butter and parmesan.
3

12+ months

Any preparation. A cooking staple.

Serving ideas

  • -Use as a flavor base in any cooked dish
  • -Add to omelets, pizza, or tacos
  • -Caramelize and spread on bread

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Sweet Onion and Sweet Potato Mash

From 6 months

Ingredients

  • -1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • -1 medium sweet potato, peeled and diced
  • -1 tsp unsalted butter
  • -1 tsp olive oil
  • -2 tbsp water

Steps

  1. Heat butter and olive oil in a skillet over medium-low heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 25 to 30 minutes until very soft, golden, and sweet.
  2. While onion cooks, steam or boil sweet potato for 12 to 15 minutes until completely tender.
  3. Mash sweet potato with water until smooth.
  4. Stir softened golden onion into the mash, chopping any larger pieces finely with the side of your spoon.
  5. Blend smooth for 6-8 months, or leave with soft texture for older babies.

Freeze softened golden onion separately in tablespoon portions and stir into any puree or mash on demand. Keeps 3 months.

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Growing Onions at home?

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If your baby was born early, enter their due date instead of their birth date to use adjusted age. How to calculate adjusted age.

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Your baby will be ready for these next

Save these for when you need them, or get a personalized list by age.

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Ready at 6 months

Spinach

Ready at 6 months

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Ready at 6 months

Bok Choy

Ready at 6 months

Related

Can babies eat onions?All foods safe at 6 monthsPrintable first foods checklist

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Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician before introducing new foods.
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