From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash
Can Babies Eat Rhubarb? Leaves Are Toxic
The rhubarb stalk is fine cooked soft from about 9 months. The leaves are toxic, so cut them off and toss them, no exceptions.
⛔ Stalks only, cooked; the leaves are toxic.
Only ever serve the cooked rhubarb STALK; the leaves are toxic and must be cut off and thrown away before cooking.1
Why it matters: Toxicity in a plant food often lives in one specific part, so knowing which part to discard matters as much as knowing the food is safe.
Some foods have rules. YummyYucky remembers them for you. Track what your baby eats and the app flags foods like rhubarb the moment they come up, watches every new allergen for three days after the first taste, and keeps the whole record dated and pediatrician-ready.
Start tracking for free →- When to introduce
- Around 9 months, once baby handles cooked, tart purees and soft-cooked veg
- Common allergen?
- Not a common allergen; the real risk is the leaves, not an allergy
- Texture
- Cook the stalk until it collapses into a soft mash or puree; it should smear easily
- Key nutrients
- Vitamin K, vitamin C, some fiber and potassium; naturally very tart
Rhubarb is a yes for babies, with one firm rule: you serve the cooked stalk only, and the leaves get cut off and thrown in the bin before anything touches a pot. The pink or green stalks are the edible part; the big flat leaves are not food. Beyond that, rhubarb is a friendly first veg once you get past how sour it is. Around 9 months is a comfortable starting point, once your baby is already handling soft-cooked vegetables and tart purees without a fuss. Because raw rhubarb is fibrous, tough, and mouth-puckeringly tart, it always wants to be cooked down until soft before it reaches your baby.
Prep School: how to prepare rhubarb for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées
🍴 Baby-led weaning
🥄 Purées
Is rhubarb safe? Choking & prep
The single thing that matters most with rhubarb is which part you use. Rhubarb leaves are toxic because they are high in oxalic acid, so they must be cut off and discarded and never cooked or served to your baby, per poison-control guidance.1 The stalk itself is the food, and once it is cooked soft it is gentle and easy to eat. Rhubarb is also genuinely tart, and the instinct to fix that with sugar is one to resist; babies should not have added sugar, so serve plain cooked rhubarb, or stir a spoonful into something naturally sweet like banana, apple, or pear.2 Cook it down until it is soft enough to smear so there is no firm, stringy piece to gag on, and as with any new food, offer it when you can sit and watch. If you ever buy rhubarb with leaves still attached, remove them the moment you get home so there is no mix-up later.
Nutrition
Cooked rhubarb stalk brings a hit of vitamin K, some vitamin C, and a little fiber and potassium, along with plant compounds that give it that bright color. It is not a calorie-dense food, so think of it as a flavor and variety player rather than a main course. Pairing it with something richer, like full-fat yogurt or oatmeal, rounds it out and softens the sourness at the same time.
Goes well with
Full-fat plain yogurt · Oatmeal or baby cereal · Cooked apple or pear · Banana · Cinnamon or vanilla · Ricotta or cottage cheese
Storage & freezing
Cooked rhubarb puree keeps 1 to 2 days in the fridge, or 1 to 2 months in the freezer.3 Store it in a sealed container in the fridge, or freeze it in an ice cube tray for handy single portions. Raw stalks keep in the fridge for up to a week; wrap them loosely and, again, make sure any leaves came off first. Reheat gently and cool to just warm before serving.
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
Are rhubarb leaves really dangerous for babies?
Yes. Rhubarb leaves are high in oxalic acid and are considered toxic, so they should never be cooked or eaten by anyone, babies included. Cut them off and throw them away, and only use the stalk.
When can my baby try rhubarb?
Around 9 months is a sensible start, once your baby is already eating soft-cooked vegetables and tart purees comfortably. Always serve it cooked soft, never raw.
Does rhubarb need to be cooked for babies?
Yes. Raw rhubarb is tough, fibrous, and extremely tart. Cooking it down until it collapses into a soft mash makes it easy to gum and much more pleasant to eat.
Do I have to add sugar to rhubarb for my baby?
No. Rhubarb is tart, but babies should not have added sugar. Offer small amounts plain, or mix it into something naturally sweet like banana, apple, or yogurt to balance the sourness.
Is rhubarb a common allergen?
Rhubarb is not one of the common food allergens. The main safety concern is the toxic leaves, not an allergic reaction, though as with any new food you should watch for any unusual response.
Can rhubarb cause choking?
Cooked-soft rhubarb puree is low risk because it mashes easily. The bigger issue with raw stalks is that they are stringy and tough, which is another reason to always cook it down before serving.
What is the tartness about, and is it safe?
Rhubarb tastes sour because of natural acids in the stalk. In normal food amounts the cooked stalk is safe; it is simply strong-flavored, so small servings and pairing with something mild work best.
Can I give my baby store-bought rhubarb pie or dessert?
It is better to skip those. Rhubarb pies and desserts are usually loaded with sugar, and children under 2 should not have added sugar. Home-cooked plain stalk lets you control what goes in.
How much rhubarb should I offer at first?
Start with a spoonful or two mixed into a familiar food. Its tartness means a little goes a long way, and small amounts let you see how your baby takes to the flavor.
What if my baby ate a bit of rhubarb leaf by accident?
Do not wait it out on your own. Call Poison Control right away (1-800-222-1222 in the US, or your local poison center) if you think your baby has eaten or swallowed something poisonous, even if they seem fine, because signs of poisoning can take time to show. Take away anything that is left, and do not try to make your baby vomit. Call 911 (or your local emergency number) right away for trouble breathing, a seizure, or a baby who goes floppy or limp, or is suddenly sleepy or hard to wake. When you call Poison Control, have the leaf handy and say roughly how much your baby ate and when.1 Call 911 too if your baby's mouth or throat swells or they have trouble swallowing, since rhubarb leaf can blister and swell the mouth badly enough to make swallowing hard.1 The stalk is fine, but the leaves are the part to take seriously.
Sources
- MedlinePlus: Rhubarb leaves poisoning
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit (added sugars)
- 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
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
- CDC: Infant and Toddler Nutrition
- Poison Control (National Capital Poison Center): First aid for poisonings
- AAP HealthyChildren: Poison Prevention & Treatment Tips for Parents
- MedlinePlus: Poisoning first aid
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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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