From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash
Can Babies Eat Choy Sum? Yes, Cooked Soft
A mild, tender Chinese flowering green with soft stems. Cook it soft and chop small, and it stirs easily into baby food from 6 months.
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- When to introduce
- Around 6 months
- Common allergen?
- No (not a common allergen)
- Texture
- Cooked soft, finely chopped
- Key nutrients
- Vitamin A, vitamin C, calcium, folate
Can babies eat choy sum? Yes, from around 6 months, cooked soft and finely chopped. Choy sum is a tender Chinese flowering green, milder and softer than many leafy vegetables, with slim stems and small yellow flowers. Because it wilts down so quickly and tastes gently sweet, it is one of the friendlier greens to introduce early. Cook it until very soft, chop it finely or blend it smooth, and stir it into rice, noodles, soup, or a puree. Most babies take to its mild flavor without much fuss.
Prep School: how to prepare choy sum for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées
🍴 Baby-led weaning
🥄 Purées
Is choy sum safe? Choking & prep
Choy sum is not a common allergen and has no special choking risk when cooked soft and chopped small. Whole raw leaves can be stringy and slippery for young babies, so cook it until tender and chop or blend it well. Introduce it on its own for the first few tries, as you would any new food, and skip added salt.
Trying choy sum soon? Log the first taste in YummyYucky and mark it yummy, meh, or yucky to see how baby's greens list grows over time.
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Nutrition
Like other leafy greens, choy sum brings a useful mix of nutrients in a small serving. It offers vitamin A and beta-carotene for healthy eyes and skin, vitamin C to support immune function and help the body absorb iron from other foods, and folate, which is part of steady growth. It also contributes a little calcium and potassium. Serving choy sum alongside an iron-rich food like lentils or meat is a simple way to make the most of its vitamin C.
Goes well with
Rice or congee · Soft noodles · Lentils or tofu · Shredded chicken · Scrambled egg · Sesame oil (a light drizzle after 12 months)
Storage & freezing
Refrigerate fresh choy sum wrapped loosely in the crisper drawer and use within a few days. Cooked choy sum keeps in the fridge for up to 3 days, or freeze it in small portions.
More vegetables to explore
Related reading
- Best first vegetables for babies →
- How to cut food to prevent choking →
- Signs your baby is ready for solids →
- Baby-led weaning vs. purées →
Common questions
When can babies have choy sum?
From around 6 months, cooked soft and finely chopped or blended into food.
What does choy sum taste like?
Mild and slightly sweet, gentler than many leafy greens, so babies tend to accept it easily.
Is choy sum a common allergen?
No, it is not a top-9 allergen. Cook it soft and introduce it like any new food.
Is choy sum a choking hazard for babies?
Whole raw leaves can be stringy and slippery. Cook choy sum until very soft and chop it small to make it easy to manage.
How do I cook choy sum for a baby?
Steam, boil, or stir-fry it until the leaves and stems are very tender, then chop finely or blend it smooth.
Can I give my baby the stems too?
Yes. Cook the stems until soft, since they are thicker than the leaves, then chop them small.
How is choy sum different from bok choy?
Choy sum has slimmer stems, small yellow flowers, and a milder, slightly sweeter flavor. Both are prepared the same way for babies.
Can babies eat choy sum in a stir-fry?
Yes, once they are handling soft finger foods, usually around 12 months. Chop it small and go easy on salt and any added sauces.
Does choy sum need to be organic?
No. Wash it well under running water to remove grit and any residue. Organic is a personal choice, not a safety requirement.
Can I mix choy sum with other foods?
Yes. It stirs easily into rice, noodles, soup, lentils, or a puree, which is often the easiest way to serve it early on.
Further reading
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Encourage and Limit
Track it in YummyYucky
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Start tracking for freeLast 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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