From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash

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Can Babies Eat Broccoli? Age, Prep, and First Tastes

Q: When can babies eat broccoli?

Around 6 months, once your baby is ready for solids. Steamed soft, broccoli is easy to gum and its shape is handy for self-feeding.

Q: Can babies eat raw broccoli?

No. Raw broccoli is firm and a choking hazard. Always serve it cooked until soft for babies and young toddlers.

Q: Can babies eat broccoli stems?

Yes, once they are cooked until very soft. The stem is tougher than the florets, so peel the woody outside layer and cook it well before serving, or just save the stems for a puree where the texture disappears.

A green with a built-in handle. Steamed soft, a broccoli tree is easy for little hands to grab and gum, and it nudges the palate past the sweet stuff.

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When to introduce: Around 6 months
Common allergen?: No (not a top-9 allergen)
Texture: Soft when steamed; never raw
Key nutrients: Vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, fiber

Broccoli is the rare vegetable that comes with its own handle. Steamed soft, a little broccoli tree is easy for a fist to grab and gum, which makes it a favorite for baby-led weaning from around 6 months.¹ Its slightly bitter, savory taste is a feature, not a bug: it nudges your baby past the sweet stuff early, while they are still open to it.

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

🍴 Baby-led weaning

6 monthsSteam florets until very soft; the stalk doubles as a handle to hold.

9 monthsSoft, small florets or finely chopped cooked broccoli.

12 months+Roasted and chopped, or mixed into family meals like pasta.

🥄 Purées

6 monthsSteam florets until very soft, then puree for a first spoon-fed texture.

9 monthsA chunkier mash, or finely chopped soft broccoli stirred into other foods.

12 months+Chopped into family meals like pasta and cheese.

Is broccoli safe? Choking & prep

The whole safety story with broccoli is texture. Raw broccoli is firm and a choking risk,³ so cook it until a floret squishes easily between your fingers;¹² if it is still firm, give it longer. Steaming keeps more of the nutrients than boiling.⁴

Trying broccoli today? Log the first taste and whether it was a hit, a hard maybe, or launched across the room, dated and ready for the pediatrician.

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Nutrition

Broccoli is rich in vitamin C, vitamin K, and folate, and a good source of fiber.⁵ The vitamin C can help your baby absorb iron from iron-rich foods served in the same meal.⁶

Goes well with

Cheese · Potato · Chicken · Sweet potato

Storage & freezing

Cooked broccoli keeps 1 to 2 days in the fridge, or 1 to 2 months in the freezer.⁸ To freeze raw broccoli, blanch it first, then freeze it in portions.

More vegetables to explore

🥦

BroccoliniAround 6 months

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Brussels sproutsAround 9 months

🥕

BurdockAround 9 months

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Buttercup SquashAround 6 months

🎃

Butternut squashAround 6 months, when baby shows signs of readiness

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CabbageAround 6 months

Common questions

Is broccoli good for babies?

Yes, broccoli for babies is a genuinely nutritious early vegetable. It brings vitamin C, vitamin K, folate, and fiber to the table,⁵ and its little-tree shape happens to double as a built-in handle for tiny hands. It is a great way to add some green to those first meals.

How to cook broccoli for baby

Steam or boil florets until very soft and squishable; they should mash easily between your fingers.
Steaming keeps more of the vitamins than boiling,⁴ so reach for the steamer when you can.
Roasting is a nice option for older babies who want a different, deeper flavor.
Skip the salt and heavy butter; your baby does not need them yet.

How to serve broccoli for baby-led weaning

Steam a whole floret until very soft and hand it over by the stalk, so the little tree becomes a built-in handle.
Make sure it squishes easily between your fingers; if it is still firm, cook it longer.¹²
For younger or less confident eaters, chop the soft florets small.
You can also offer a broccoli puree on a preloaded spoon.

How to serve broccoli by age

6 months: soft steamed florets to hold, or broccoli puree.
9 months: soft small pieces that work with the developing pincer grasp.
12 months and up: soft florets and chopped stems as part of family meals.

Does broccoli cause gas in babies?

Broccoli is a cruciferous vegetable, so it can be a bit gassy. That is completely normal and not a reason to skip it, and the fiber is genuinely good for your baby.⁷ If it seems to bother them, offer smaller amounts and build up gradually.⁷

When can babies eat broccoli?

Around 6 months, once your baby is ready for solids.¹ Steamed soft, broccoli is easy to gum and its shape is handy for self-feeding.

Can babies eat raw broccoli?

No. Raw broccoli is firm and a choking hazard.³ Always serve it cooked until soft for babies and young toddlers.¹

Can babies eat broccoli stems?

Yes, once they are cooked until very soft.¹ The stem is tougher than the florets, so peel the woody outside layer and cook it well before serving, or just save the stems for a puree where the texture disappears.

How do I make broccoli purée?

Steam the florets until very soft, then blend with a little of the cooking water or some breast milk or formula until smooth. Broccoli has a strong flavor, so mixing it with potato or pear can mellow it out for a first taste.

Sources

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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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