From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash
Baby-safe spices and herbs
Bland baby food is a myth worth skipping. Babies are born curious eaters, and offering a variety of tastes early helps them get familiar with a wider world of flavor. Many culinary herbs and mild spices can join the plate from around 6 months, in small amounts and an age-appropriate form. The main things to hold back are salt and added sugar(check blends for hidden salt), not flavor. Here they are, grouped by the kind of flavor they bring.
Warm & sweet
Savory & earthy
Fresh herbs
Blends from around the world
A little heat
Aromatics
Garlic and onion are the quiet backbone of flavor in kitchens everywhere. Cooked soft, they turn sweet and mellow and disappear into almost anything your baby eats. They live with the foods, since you can log them too.
Want the why behind all this (heat, salt, and how much)? Read the full spices & herbs guide →
Track it in YummyYucky
Log first tries and reactions, with an automatic allergen tracker when a food needs one, all in one place you can share with your pediatrician.
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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