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From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash

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Can Babies Eat Broad Beans? Age & Safety Guide

Broad beans (fava, field bean) are a nutritious protein for babies from about 6 months, but peel and mash them first, skip them if your baby has G6PD deficiency, and ask your pediatrician first if it runs in the family.

Why it matters: Broad beans are somebody's everyday spring vegetable across a big part of the world, and they're a gentle, nutritious way to widen your baby's protein palate beyond the usual. Get the peeling and the G6PD question sorted, and they're a keeper.

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When to introduce
From about 6 months
Common allergen?
Not a common allergen
Texture
Peeled and mashed; never whole
Key nutrients
Plant protein, fiber, folate, iron

Broad beans go by a lot of names. You might know them as fava beans when they're young and tender, or field beans in the garden. Across the Mediterranean, the Middle East, and much of Europe they show up in everything from spring stews to breakfast ful medames, and they're a genuinely lovely early protein for babies. The catch is that a broad bean out of the pod still has a second coat: a tough, waxy skin over each individual bean that's chewy for adults and a real hazard for a baby. Peel that off, mash what's inside, and you've got a soft, buttery, slightly sweet food that's easy to love. Before you start, though, there's one family-history question worth settling, and we'll get to it in the safety section.

⚠️ Peel and mash broad beans; the CDC lists whole beans among choking hazards for young children1, and if your baby has G6PD deficiency, do not give broad beans at all3.

Prep School: how to prepare broad bean for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

🍴 Baby-led weaning

Check family history firstBroad beans (fava) can trigger favism in babies who have G6PD deficiency. If your baby has G6PD deficiency, do not give broad beans or dishes made with them. If G6PD deficiency or favism runs in the family, or you do not know whether your baby was tested, ask your pediatrician before the first taste.
Pod to beanPop the beans out of the long pod. Simmer them until completely soft, about 5 to 8 minutes for fresh, longer for dried.
Peel the skinThis is the non-negotiable step. Slip off the pale, tough outer skin from each bean and discard it. What's underneath is the bright, soft inner bean you want.
Mash and serveA whole bean is a firm, round shape that should never go on the tray, so mash the peeled beans instead. From about 6 months, offer the mash on a preloaded spoon or spread it on something your baby is already holding. From about 9 months you can flatten each soft, peeled bean between your fingers instead.

🥄 Purées

Check family history firstBroad beans (fava) can trigger favism in babies who have G6PD deficiency. If your baby has G6PD deficiency, do not give broad beans or dishes made with them. If G6PD deficiency or favism runs in the family, or you do not know whether your baby was tested, ask your pediatrician before the first taste.
Pod to beanPop the beans out of the long pod. Simmer them until completely soft, about 5 to 8 minutes for fresh, longer for dried.
Peel the skinThis is the non-negotiable step. Slip off the pale, tough outer skin from each bean and discard it. What's underneath is the bright, soft inner bean you want.
Mash and serveMash the peeled beans smooth, or blend with a little of the cooking water, breast milk, or olive oil for a looser puree. From about 6 months, offer it on a preloaded spoon or stirred into other purees.

Is broad bean safe? Choking & prep

Two things to square away before broad beans go on the tray. First, the danger that comes before everything else: broad beans (fava) can trigger favism, a breakdown of red blood cells that can be serious, in babies who have G6PD deficiency3. If your baby has G6PD deficiency, do not give broad beans or dishes made with them3. If G6PD deficiency or favism runs in the family, or you do not know whether your baby was tested, ask your pediatrician before the first taste. If you are breastfeeding a baby who has G6PD deficiency, ask your pediatrician before you eat broad beans yourself, since favism has been reported in breastfed babies after their mothers ate them4. Signs of a favism attack can show up a day to a few days later: pale or yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, fever, belly pain, unusual tiredness, a fast heartbeat, or shortness of breath34. If you see any signs of favism after broad beans, get your baby medical care right away, and call 911 (or your local emergency number) for trouble breathing or for a baby who goes floppy or limp, or is suddenly sleepy or hard to wake. Second, the choking risk: peel off the tough outer skin and mash the beans, because the CDC lists whole beans among the choking hazards for young children1. Serve peeled and mashed from about 6 months, since first foods should be soft or pureed2, always seated and supervised, never a whole bean in a fist.

Nutrition

Broad beans are a solid plant protein, and they bring fiber, folate, and some iron to the table, which makes them a useful protein from the start of solids. Pairing them with a vitamin C food (a squeeze of tomato, a little citrus in a dip) helps the body take up the plant iron. Like most legumes, they can be a bit gassy at first, so start with a small amount and build up.

Goes well with

Mashed potato or soft rice · Ricotta or plain yogurt · Olive oil and a little lemon · Soft-cooked peas or spinach · Cooked pasta stars · Tomato (for the vitamin C)

Storage & freezing

Peeled, cooked broad beans keep 1 to 2 days in the fridge, or 1 to 2 months in the freezer.5 Store them in a sealed container. Mash freezes well: portion it into an ice cube tray, freeze, then bag the cubes. Thaw in the fridge and use promptly, and don't refreeze once thawed.

More proteins to explore

🦀
Brown crabAround 6 months, fully cooked and minced or blended; small soft pieces from about 9 months
🌰
CandlenutNot recommended for babies
🫘
Cannellini beansAround 6 months
🐟
Capelin6 months+
🍗
Capon6 months+
🐟
CarpAround 6 months

Related reading

Common questions

Can babies eat broad beans?

Yes, from about 6 months, as long as they're peeled of the tough outer skin and mashed. The one exception: if your baby has G6PD deficiency, skip broad beans completely, and if it runs in the family, check with your pediatrician first.

At what age can babies have broad beans?

From around 6 months, once your baby is ready for solids, as long as the beans are peeled and mashed smooth, since first foods should be soft or pureed2. From about 9 months you can flatten each soft, peeled bean instead of mashing it.

Are broad beans a choking hazard for babies?

A whole broad bean is, yes. The CDC lists whole beans among the choking hazards for young children1. Peeling off the outer skin and mashing or flattening the bean greatly reduces that risk. Never hand a baby a whole bean.

How do I cook and serve broad beans for a baby?

Simmer until fully soft, peel the tough skin off every bean, then mash smooth or loosen with a little cooking water or olive oil. Offer on a preloaded spoon or mixed into other foods.

What is favism and why does it matter with broad beans?

Favism is a breakdown of red blood cells, which can be serious, triggered by broad beans in people with G6PD deficiency, an inherited enzyme condition3. If your baby has G6PD deficiency, do not give broad beans at all. If it runs in your family, or you do not know whether your baby was tested, speak to your pediatrician before introducing them. Signs of a favism attack can show up a day to a few days later: pale or yellow skin or eyes, dark urine, fever, belly pain, unusual tiredness, a fast heartbeat, or shortness of breath34. If you see any signs of favism after broad beans, get your baby medical care right away, and call 911 (or your local emergency number) for trouble breathing or for a baby who goes floppy or limp, or is suddenly sleepy or hard to wake.

Are broad beans a common allergen?

Broad beans are not one of the common childhood food allergens. As with any new food, introduce them on their own and watch for any reaction, but they don't carry the allergen profile of foods like peanut, egg, or milk.

Do I really have to peel broad beans for my baby?

Yes. The individual skin over each bean stays tough and chewy even after cooking, and it's both a choking risk and hard to manage. The soft inner bean is the part you mash and serve.

Can broad beans make my baby gassy?

They can, like most beans. Start with a small serving and increase gradually so their tummy can adjust. A little extra gas is normal and not a reason to stop, unless your baby seems genuinely uncomfortable.

Sources

  1. CDC: Choking hazards (infant and toddler nutrition)
  2. AAP HealthyChildren: Starting Solid Foods
  3. MedlinePlus (NIH): Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
  4. Nutrients (2023): Favism: Clinical Features at Different Ages (PMC)
  5. FoodSafety.gov: Children Under Five, Safe Storage of Puréed and Solid Baby Food (homemade baby foods: 1 to 2 days refrigerated, 1 to 2 months frozen)

Further reading

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Last updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.

This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.

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