Beans for babies
Beans and lentils are one of the best-value first foods going: cheap, plant-powered protein and iron, soft when cooked, and endlessly versatile. A couple of small safety points, one of them genuinely important, and your baby is set.
When and how
From around 6 months, cooked very soft and mashed. Black beans, pinto, white beans, chickpeas, and lentils all work well. A whole firm bean is a choking risk for a young baby, so mash them, flatten each between your fingers, or blend into a purée or hummus.
The kidney-bean rule (read this one)
Kidney beans are a great food, but only when fully cooked. Raw and undercooked kidney beans contain a natural toxin (phytohaemagglutinin) that causes nausea and vomiting. Two safe routes:
- Canned kidney beans are already fully cooked, just rinse and mash.
- Dried kidney beans: soak them, then boil hard for at least 10 minutes before simmering soft. A slow cooker on its own may not reach a high enough temperature, so boil first.
Never serve raw or undercooked kidney beans to anyone, baby or adult.
Allergens and gas
Most beans are not major allergens, but note that soybeans (see tofu and edamame) are a top-9 allergen, and peanuts, botanically legumes, are their own allergen (see introducing peanut). A little extra gas as your baby adjusts is completely normal.
Rinse canned beans
Canned beans are a brilliant shortcut, but the liquid is salty. Rinse them well under the tap to wash off much of the salt before serving, since babies need very little (see salt for babies).
Related reading
See iron-rich first foods, best finger foods, and how to cut food safely.
This is general information, not medical advice. Cook all beans thoroughly, mash or flatten them for young babies, and talk to your pediatrician about any reaction.
Frequently asked questions
When can babies have beans?
From around 6 months, once solids are underway. Beans and lentils are a fantastic early food: cheap, packed with plant protein, iron, and fiber, and soft enough to mash when well cooked. Cook them until very soft and mash or flatten them, since whole beans can be a choking risk for young babies.
Are kidney beans safe for babies?
Yes, as long as they are fully cooked, and this one matters. Raw and undercooked kidney beans contain a natural toxin (phytohaemagglutinin) that causes stomach upset and vomiting. Canned kidney beans are already fully cooked and safe once rinsed. If you cook dried kidney beans, soak them, then boil them hard for at least 10 minutes before simmering, a slow cooker alone may not get hot enough.
Do beans need to be mashed?
For younger babies, yes. A whole, firm bean is a choking hazard, so mash them, flatten each one between your fingers, or blend them into a purée or a spread like hummus. Around 9 months and up, soft flattened beans they can pick up are usually fine.
Are beans an allergen? And will they cause gas?
Most beans (black, kidney, pinto, chickpea, white) are not among the major allergens, though soybeans are a separate top-9 allergen, and peanuts, which are legumes, are their own. A little extra gas is normal as your baby adjusts and is nothing to worry about.
Track it in Yummy Yucky
Log first tries, get nudged through the 3-day allergen watch, and keep every bite in one place you can share with your pediatrician.
Start tracking for freeHow we write these: from widely published pediatric guidance (AAP, NIAID 2017 guidelines, the LEAP study), with sources cited on every page. Pending review by a pediatric professional.
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.
Some links in our guides are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. We only suggest things we'd actually use, and it never changes our guidance.