Can Babies Eat Lamb's Lettuce? Chop It Small
Lamb's lettuce, also called mache or corn salad, is a mild, tender green babies can try from around 6 months. Chop it finely so the soft leaves do not clump.
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- When to introduce
- Around 6 months
- Common allergen?
- No
- Texture
- Finely chopped or wilted
- Key nutrients
- Folate, vitamin C, vitamin A
Yes, babies can enjoy lamb's lettuce from around 6 months, once they are starting solids. Also known as mache or corn salad, it is one of the mildest and most tender salad greens, with small, soft, spoon-shaped leaves and a gentle, nutty flavor that is far less bold than arugula or watercress. Because the leaves are so delicate, the main thing to watch is that they can bunch up in the mouth. Chop them finely, and they slip easily into a new eater's meals.
Prep School: how to prepare lamb's lettuce for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées
🍴 Baby-led weaning
🥄 Purées
Is lamb's lettuce safe? Choking & prep
Wash lamb's lettuce thoroughly before serving to remove grit, since these leaves grow close to the soil and can trap dirt. The leaves are soft and tender rather than firm, but because they can bunch and stick together in the mouth, chop them finely so pieces do not clump. Lamb's lettuce is not a common allergen, though as with any new food, introduce it on its own and watch how your baby responds. Skip the salt and salad dressings, since babies need very little salt. Stay nearby and supervise while your baby eats.
Sharing a little lamb's lettuce with your baby? Log the try with the date and tag it yummy, meh, or yucky to remember how this mild green landed.
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Nutrition
Lamb's lettuce offers folate, vitamin C, and vitamin A in a low-calorie, gentle package, along with small amounts of iron. Its mild, slightly nutty flavor makes it an easy green to introduce early, before stronger tastes. Serving it with a little healthy fat, like a drizzle of olive oil or a spoon of avocado, helps your baby absorb its fat-soluble vitamins.
Goes well with
Avocado · Potato · Scrambled egg · Pear · Soft pasta · Beans
Storage & freezing
Store fresh lamb's lettuce loosely wrapped in the fridge and use within a couple of days, since these tender leaves wilt quickly. Refrigerate wilted or cooked leaves in a sealed container and use within about a day.
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 eat lamb's lettuce?
Around 6 months, once your baby is starting solids. Wash it well and chop the tender leaves finely so they are easy to manage and do not clump in the mouth.
What is lamb's lettuce?
It is a mild, tender salad green also known as mache or corn salad, with small, soft, spoon-shaped leaves and a gentle, slightly nutty flavor.
Is lamb's lettuce a choking hazard for babies?
The leaves are soft rather than firm, but they can bunch and stick together in the mouth. Chopping them finely so pieces do not clump keeps them easy and safe for a new eater.
Do I need to cook lamb's lettuce?
No, it does not need cooking. It is naturally tender, so finely chopped raw leaves work once your baby handles textures, and wilting them briefly makes them even softer for younger eaters.
Is lamb's lettuce a common allergen?
No, lamb's lettuce is not one of the common allergens. As with any new food, introduce it on its own and watch how your baby responds.
Is lamb's lettuce the same as mache or corn salad?
Yes. Lamb's lettuce, mache, and corn salad are all names for the same mild, tender salad green, depending on where you are.
How do I wash lamb's lettuce for my baby?
Rinse it thoroughly in a few changes of water, since the leaves grow close to the soil and can trap grit. A salad spinner or gentle pat dry finishes the job.
Will my baby find lamb's lettuce too bitter?
It is one of the mildest salad greens, with a gentle, nutty taste rather than the peppery bite of arugula or watercress, which makes it a friendly green to introduce early.
How should I serve lamb's lettuce to a 6 month old?
Wash and finely chop the leaves, then stir them into a puree, mash, or soft grains. Mixing them into a familiar food keeps the soft leaves from clumping.
Can I add dressing to my baby's lamb's lettuce?
Skip salad dressings and salt, since babies need very little salt. A little olive oil or mashed avocado adds flavor and helps with absorbing the leaves' vitamins.
Further reading
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Encourage and Limit
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Start tracking for freeLast updated July 2026. Next review January 2027. How we write these: grounded in widely published pediatric guidance (the AAP, WHO, the NIAID 2017 allergen guidelines, and the LEAP study), and pending independent review by a pediatric professional. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these.
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.
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