Parsley overview

How to Prepare Parsley for Baby

Parsley 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

Fresh parsley has a clean, bright, grassy flavor with a mild bitterness and a faint peppery finish that fades almost completely when cooked. Curly parsley is milder and slightly watery; flat-leaf (Italian) parsley is more aromatic and flavorful, with a richer savory note. It pairs naturally with lemon, olive oil, garlic, potato, white beans, carrot, and eggs.

1

6 to 8 months

Finely minced and added to eggs, pasta, or soft vegetables. A great herb for flavor introduction.

Serving ideas

  • -Stir very finely chopped flat-leaf parsley into mashed potato or avocado. Parsley is surprisingly high in iron, and pairing it with a fat-rich food helps absorption.
  • -Blend a handful of flat-leaf parsley leaves into a white bean or lentil puree with olive oil for a vivid green, iron-rich first food.
  • -Mix finely chopped parsley into mashed sweet potato with a squeeze of lemon to boost iron absorption.
2

9 to 11 months

Continue as a flavor ingredient.

Serving ideas

  • -Mix chopped parsley into scrambled eggs, pasta, or rice.
  • -Stir into mild tabbouleh with very soft couscous and diced cucumber.
  • -Blend into a simple herb yogurt sauce and serve alongside soft chicken or fish.
3

12+ months

Anywhere parsley is used - tabbouleh, gremolata, sauces, soups.

Serving ideas

  • -Add to any savory dish as a flavor and nutrition boost
  • -Make chimichurri (parsley, olive oil, garlic, vinegar)
  • -Blend into green smoothies

See what's safe for your baby's age

Enter your baby's birthday and get a personalized list of foods to introduce, how to prep each one, and what to plant so the harvest lands right on time.

Freezing Parsley for baby

Chop finely and freeze in ice cube trays with a little water. Pop out cubes and bag them. Ready to drop straight into soups or soft foods.

Parsley and Lentil Soup

From 6 months

Ingredients

  • -1/4 cup red lentils, rinsed
  • -1 small carrot, peeled and diced
  • -1 small garlic clove, minced
  • -1 1/2 cups low-sodium vegetable broth or water
  • -2 tbsp fresh flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
  • -1 tsp olive oil

Steps

  1. Heat olive oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and carrot and cook for 2 minutes, stirring.
  2. Add lentils and broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a simmer.
  3. Cook uncovered for 15 to 18 minutes until lentils are completely soft and beginning to fall apart.
  4. Stir in parsley and cook for 1 minute more.
  5. Blend smooth for 6-8 months. For 9 months and older, serve as a textured soup.

Red lentils are iron-rich for babies. The parsley adds vitamin C to boost that iron absorption.

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Growing Parsley at home?

Enter your baby's birthday and we'll tell you exactly when to plant so the harvest lines up with your baby's readiness.

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.

Dill

Ready at 6 months

Basil

Ready at 6 months

Chives

Ready at 6 months

Cilantro

Ready at 6 months

Related

Can babies eat parsley?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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