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Sorrel for Babies: A Lemony Green, in Moderation

A leafy green with a bright, lemony tang from its natural oxalic acid. Lovely cooked into sauces, but best in moderation, like spinach.

When to introduce
Around 6 months, cooked
Common allergen?
No (not a common allergen)
Texture
Cooked soft, finely chopped
Key nutrients
Vitamin C, vitamin A, magnesium

When can babies eat sorrel?

Sorrel is a leafy green with a distinctive lemony-sour taste, used in French and Eastern European sauces and soups. That tang comes from oxalic acid, so like spinach it is best cooked and served in moderation, finely chopped, from around 6 months.

⚠️ Sorrel is high in oxalates (the source of its lemony tang), so serve it cooked and in moderation rather than in large amounts, much like spinach and chard. Cooking softens both the leaf and the sharpness.

How to prepare sorrel for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées, by age

6 monthsCook sorrel soft (it wilts to a puree almost instantly) and stir a small amount into potato, egg, or a mild sauce.
9 monthsServe small amounts of soft-cooked, finely chopped sorrel in soft dishes.
12 months+Use cooked sorrel in soups and sauces, in moderation.

Is sorrel safe? Choking & prep

Sorrel is high in oxalates, so cook it and serve it in moderation rather than large amounts, as with spinach and chard. Cook it soft and chop finely. Not a common allergen.

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Nutrition

Sorrel provides vitamin C, vitamin A, and magnesium, with a bright lemony flavor. Its oxalates mean moderation, not that it is unsafe.

Goes well with

Potato · Egg · Fish

Storage & freezing

Keep sorrel refrigerated and use within a few days, since it wilts quickly.

More vegetables to explore

🎃
Spaghetti squashAround 6 months
🥬
SpinachAround 6 months
🥔
SunchokeAround 6 months
🍠
Sweet potatoAround 6 months
🥬
Sweet potato greensAround 6 months
🥬
Swiss chardAround 8 months

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

When can babies have sorrel?

From around 6 months, cooked soft and in moderation, since it is high in oxalates like spinach.

Why serve sorrel in moderation?

It is high in oxalic acid (the source of its lemony tang), so like spinach and chard it is best cooked and eaten in moderate amounts.

Is sorrel a common allergen?

No, it is not a top-9 allergen. Cook it and introduce like any new food.

Sources

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Last updated July 2026. 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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