Potatoes overview

How to Prepare Potatoes for Baby

Potatoes 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 potato is starchy and mildly bitter with a firm, dense texture that is never appropriate for babies. Boiled potatoes have a clean, neutral flavor with a light savory starch that absorbs butter, oil, and broth readily. Roasted potato develops a crispy exterior with a creamy interior and a deeper, nuttier flavor from Maillard browning. It pairs naturally with butter, olive oil, garlic, rosemary, thyme, cheddar, leeks, and sour cream.

1

6 to 8 months

Boil or roast until very soft. Cut into thick sticks or wedges. Plain or with a little butter - avoid salt. Skin can help with grip.

Serving ideas

  • -Boil or bake until very soft and cut into thick wedges
  • -Mash with butter, olive oil, or breast milk
  • -Mix mashed potato with pureed vegetables
2

9 to 11 months

Soft diced potato, roasted or boiled. Mashed potato is a great base food.

Serving ideas

  • -Dice soft-cooked potato for self-feeding
  • -Make mini potato pancakes with egg
  • -Mix into a mild soup or stew
3

12+ months

Any preparation - mashed, roasted, fried, in soups, potato pancakes.

Serving ideas

  • -Bake potato wedges or fries
  • -Make loaded mashed potatoes with cheese and broccoli
  • -Add to curries, stews, or shepherd's pie

See what's safe for your baby's age

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Herb Mashed Potatoes

From 6 months

Ingredients

  • -2 medium Yukon Gold potatoes, peeled and diced
  • -1 tbsp unsalted butter
  • -1 tsp fresh chives or flat-leaf parsley, finely chopped
  • -3 to 5 tbsp whole milk or water

Steps

  1. Cover diced potatoes with cold water in a saucepan and bring to a boil.
  2. Cook for 15 minutes until completely tender and easy to pierce with a fork.
  3. Drain well and return to the hot saucepan for 1 minute to let steam escape.
  4. Add butter and milk. Mash until smooth and fluffy, adding milk one tablespoon at a time for desired consistency.
  5. Stir in herbs just before serving.

Yukon Gold potatoes have a naturally buttery flavor and mash more creamily than russets. Milk is a dairy allergen; substitute water or breast milk for the smoothest dairy-free version.

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Growing Potatoes 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.

Cauliflower

Ready at 6 months

Spinach

Ready at 6 months

Kale

Ready at 6 months

Bok Choy

Ready at 6 months

Related

Can babies eat potatoes?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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