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Can Babies Eat Split Pea Soup? Yes, From 6 Months

Split pea soup suits babies from about 6 months, and its natural thickness is a real advantage: it stays on a spoon instead of running off. The part that needs changing is the ham hock or bacon most recipes are built on, which pushes the salt far past what a baby should have.

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When to introduce
From about 6 months, cooked very soft and made without salt or ham
Common allergen?
Plain split pea soup contains no common allergens, though creamy versions contain milk and some recipes thicken with wheat flour
Texture
Naturally thick and spoonable; blend smooth at 6 months, leave it lightly mashed later
Key nutrients
Protein, fiber and steady energy, with USDA listing cooked split peas at 8.34 g protein, 8.3 g fiber and 1.29 mg iron per 100 g

Yes, babies can eat split pea soup, and the texture is doing you a favor. Split peas collapse into a thick puree on their own, so unlike most soups this one stays put on a spoon instead of sliding off before it gets anywhere. From about 6 months it is a solid everyday meal: USDA data puts cooked split peas at 8.34 g of protein, 8.3 g of fiber and 1.29 mg of iron per 100 g8. The one thing you have to change is the ham hock, bacon or salted stock nearly every recipe leans on. Cure and salt are the whole point of a ham hock, and a baby under 1 should have less than 1 g of salt for the entire day3. Build your baby's pot without it and add the ham to the adult bowls.

Prep School: how to prepare split pea soup for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées

🍴 Baby-led weaning

Around 6 monthsSimmer split peas in water or unsalted broth until they fall apart completely, then blend smooth. No ham, no bacon, no stock cube, no salt. The soup will be thick already, so loosen it with a little water, breast milk or formula until it coats a spoon without running off. Preload a spoon and hand it to your baby to bring to their own mouth. Serve warm rather than hot: thick soup holds heat and microwaves heat unevenly, so stir it well and let it stand two minutes before it reaches your baby9.
9 to 12 monthsLeave it lightly mashed rather than blended, so there is texture to work with, but still cook the peas until they collapse completely, since firm peas are harder for a baby to manage. Keep any carrot or onion in the pot cooked until the pieces squash flat between your finger and thumb. Strips of soft bread or toast for dipping give your baby something to hold, which usually goes better than a spoon at this stage. A pinch of cumin or thyme makes it taste like food rather than a puree. Still no ham or salt, and sit your baby upright and stay with them.
12 months and upA small bowl of the family soup works now, provided the salt stayed moderate. If you cook with a ham hock for everyone else, ladle your toddler's portion out before the ham goes in, or use a small amount of unsalted cooked pork instead. Cool it to warm, hand them their own spoon and a strip of soft bread to dip, and expect a green kitchen.

🥄 Purées

Around 6 monthsSimmer split peas in water or unsalted broth until they fall apart completely, then blend smooth. No ham, no bacon, no stock cube, no salt. The soup will be thick already, so loosen it with a little water, breast milk or formula until it coats a spoon without running off, and spoon it to your baby. Serve warm rather than hot: thick soup holds heat and microwaves heat unevenly, so stir it well and let it stand two minutes before it reaches your baby9.
9 to 12 monthsLeave it lightly mashed rather than blended, so there is texture on the spoon, but still cook the peas until they collapse completely, since firm peas are harder for a baby to manage. Mash in any carrot or onion from the pot, cooked until the pieces squash flat between your finger and thumb. A pinch of cumin or thyme makes it taste like food rather than a puree. Strips of soft bread or toast to dip alongside the spoon give your baby something to hold. Still no ham or salt, and sit your baby upright and stay with them.
12 months and upA small bowl of the family soup works now, provided the salt stayed moderate, lightly mashed if your toddler still likes it that way. If you cook with a ham hock for everyone else, ladle your toddler's portion out before the ham goes in, or use a small amount of unsalted cooked pork instead. Cool it to warm, let them manage their own spoon, and expect a green kitchen.

🍪 Their own pea and potato bowl →

Is split pea soup safe? Choking & prep

The real issue with split pea soup is what it is traditionally cooked with. A ham hock, bacon or salted stock is where the flavor comes from and also where the salt comes from: the NHS advises against stock cubes and gravy for babies because they are often high in salt1, and salty food is not good for a baby's kidneys2. Cured pork is saltier again, and the CDC puts processed meats near the top of its list of high-salt foods to avoid for young children4. A baby under 1 should have less than 1 g of salt a day3, so cook your baby's portion in water or unsalted broth and add the ham to the adult bowls at the end. Beyond salt, this is a gentle food. Split peas cooked until they collapse are soft and small, so they are not a classic choking shape, but undercooked peas stay firm and any vegetables left in the pot need to squash easily between your finger and thumb. Sit your baby upright and stay with them through the meal, which is the CDC's standing advice for every meal6. Temperature is worth a moment too: a thick soup holds heat well and microwaves heat unevenly, so stir it thoroughly and let it stand a couple of minutes before it reaches your baby9. Lastly, expect some extra gas for the first few days. Split peas carry a lot of fiber, and a small serving that you build up over a week or two is easier on everyone than a full bowl on day one.

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Nutrition

Split peas are one of the better value foods in the whole store. USDA data puts them, cooked, at 8.34 g of protein, 8.3 g of fiber, 1.29 mg of iron and 362 mg of potassium per 100 g8, with folate and zinc alongside. The protein and the slow-release carbohydrate together make split pea soup genuinely filling, which is useful for a baby who is still getting most of their nutrition from breast milk or formula7 and needs solid food to count. The iron is non-heme, the plant form, and the CDC advises pairing non-heme iron sources with vitamin C foods to help a baby absorb it5, so a tomato in the pot, a squeeze of lemon at the end, or a side of soft broccoli or sweet potato all help. Split peas carry less iron than lentils do, 1.29 mg against 3.33 mg per 100 g8, so if iron is what you are chasing, lentils are the stronger pick and split peas are the better one for thickness and fiber. Running both through the week is a reasonable answer.

Goes well with

Toast strips · Carrot · Rice · Potato · Broccoli · Chicken · Yogurt

Storage & freezing

Cool split pea soup quickly and refrigerate it covered, then use it within 1 to 2 days.10 It sets almost solid in the fridge, which is normal: loosen it with water or unsalted broth on reheating rather than reaching for salt. It freezes very well, so portion it into single servings or an ice cube tray for baby-sized amounts and keep it for 1 to 2 months. Reheat only what you need, bring it to piping hot all the way through, stir it thoroughly, then let it cool to warm before serving. Throw out whatever is left in your baby's bowl rather than tipping it back into the batch.

More proteins to explore

🟢
Split peasAround 6 months
🦐
Spot prawn6 months+
🐦
Squab (pigeon)Around 6 months, once baby is ready for solids
🦑
SquidAround 6 months, fully cooked and minced or blended; small soft pieces from about 9 months
🐟
Striped bassAround 12 months, kept to small, occasional servings
🐟
Sturgeon6 months+ (choose farmed)

Related reading

Common questions

Can babies eat split pea soup?

Yes, from about 6 months, once the peas are cooked soft and the soup is made without added salt. Homemade and low-sodium works well; canned and restaurant versions are usually far too salty for a baby.

At what age can a baby have split pea soup?

Around 6 months, as soon as solids have started. Blend it smooth at first, leave it lightly mashed from about 9 months, and by 12 months a small bowl of the family version is fine if the salt stayed low.

Is the ham in split pea soup okay for babies?

Not really, and it is the main thing to change. Ham hock and bacon are cured and salty, and a baby under 1 should have less than 1 g of salt a day3. Cook your baby's portion without it and add the ham to the adult bowls at the end.

Does split pea soup give babies gas?

It often does for the first few days. Split peas are very high in fiber, and babies usually adjust within a week or two. Start with a couple of spoonfuls and build up rather than serving a full bowl straight away.

Can I freeze split pea soup for my baby?

Yes, and it is one of the best soups for it. Freeze it in single portions or an ice cube tray and use it within 1 to 2 months.10 It thickens a lot on freezing, so loosen it with water or unsalted broth when you reheat.

Do I need to soak split peas first?

No, split peas do not need soaking the way whole dried peas and most beans do. They break down on their own with a long enough simmer. Just cook them until they collapse completely, since firm peas are harder for a baby to manage.

Sources

  1. NHS, Foods to avoid giving babies and young children (salt, stock cubes, gravy)
  2. NHS, Your baby's first solid foods (salty foods are not good for babies' kidneys)
  3. NHS, Salt in your diet (babies under 1: less than 1g of salt a day)
  4. CDC, Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit (avoid foods high in salt, including processed meats)
  5. CDC, Iron (pair non-heme iron sources with vitamin C)
  6. CDC, Choking Hazards (sit up while eating and watch at all times)
  7. AAP HealthyChildren, Starting Solid Foods (breast milk or formula stays most of a baby's nutrition)
  8. USDA FoodData Central, SR Legacy: Peas, split, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt (172429), 8.34 g protein, 8.3 g fiber, 1.29 mg iron, 362 mg potassium per 100 g; Lentils (172421) 3.33 mg iron
  9. AAP HealthyChildren, Microwave Safety Tips to Prevent Burns (stir well or let it stand two minutes so heat distributes evenly)
  10. 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

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Last 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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