🥬

Cabbage for Babies: When and How to Introduce It

Mild and a little sweet once cooked down. It can be gassy at first, so start small and shred it fine.

When to introduce: Around 9 months
Common allergen?: No (not a common allergen)
Texture: Cooked soft and finely shredded
Key nutrients: Vitamin C, vitamin K, fiber, folate

When can babies eat cabbage?

Cabbage is a good vegetable to add from around 9 months, cooked until soft and shredded fine. It can be a bit gassy while your baby gets used to it, so start with small amounts.

How to prepare cabbage, by age

9 monthsCook cabbage until very soft, then shred or chop finely and mix into other foods.

12 months+Finely shredded cooked cabbage in soups, rice dishes, and family meals.

18 months+Small soft pieces as your toddler chews more, still cooked until tender.

Is cabbage safe? Choking & prep

Cook cabbage until soft and shred it finely, since raw or crunchy shreds are hard to chew. Skip added salt. Introduce a small amount first to see how your baby handles it.

First time with cabbage? Log the bite and it lands on your baby's tried-it list, dated and ready for the pediatrician.

Track cabbage in the app →

Nutrition

Cabbage offers vitamin C and vitamin K along with fiber and folate to support growth and digestion.

Goes well with

Carrot · Chicken · Rice

Storage & freezing

Cooked cabbage keeps 3 days in the fridge and can be frozen once soft, though it gets softer still.

Frequently asked questions

When can babies eat cabbage?

Around 9 months, cooked until soft and shredded finely.

Will cabbage make my baby gassy?

It can at first, like other vegetables in its family. Starting with small servings usually helps as your baby adjusts.

Can babies eat raw cabbage or coleslaw?

Not yet. Raw shreds are hard to chew, and coleslaw is often salty or sugary. Serve it cooked soft in the first year.

Is red cabbage fine too?

Yes, cooked soft. Just expect it to tint the food (and possibly the diaper) purple.

Sources

😋 🤢

Track it in Yummy Yucky

Log first tries, get nudged through the 3-day allergen watch, and keep every bite in one place you can share with your pediatrician.

Start tracking for free

How we write these: from widely published pediatric guidance (AAP, NIAID 2017 guidelines, the LEAP study), with sources cited on every page. Pending review by a pediatric professional.

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

Some links in our guides are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only suggest things we'd actually use, and it never changes our guidance.