Can Babies Have Coriander? When and How to Use It

Two flavors, one plant. The fresh leaf (cilantro) brightens dishes and the ground seed warms them, and your baby gets to try both.

When to introduce: Around 6 months
Common allergen?: No
Flavor: Fresh and citrusy (leaf); warm and citrusy (seed)
How to use: Chopped leaf or ground seed

When can babies have coriander?

Coriander is a two for one. The leaf, called cilantro in the US, and the ground seed come from the same plant, so introducing coriander means introducing both. It is a global staple, at home in kitchens from Mexico to Thailand to India.

How to use coriander in baby food

Fresh cilantro leafChop the leaf small and stir it into cooked dishes, curries, or rice for a fresh, citrusy lift.

Ground coriander seedAdd the warm, citrusy ground seed to savory cooking, beans, and vegetable dishes.

Global dishesLean on it across cuisines, from Mexican beans to Indian dals, to build your baby a wide palate early.

Is coriander safe for babies?

Coriander, both the fresh leaf and the ground seed, is safe in cooking amounts from around 6 months. Chop fresh cilantro small so it is easy to manage, and stir ground coriander into food rather than sprinkling it loose on a spoon. As with all cooking for babies under 1, keep salt and added sugar out. Coriander is not a common allergen. One fun aside: to some people cilantro tastes soapy, which is partly genetic, so your baby's verdict is entirely their own.

Bold flavors early are how you raise an adventurous eater. YummyYucky keeps track of the foods and flavors your baby has met, so you can keep widening the menu with confidence.

Start free →

Goes well with

Lentils · Rice · Carrot

Storage

Keep fresh cilantro in the fridge and use it within a few days; store ground coriander seed in an airtight jar away from heat and light.

Frequently asked questions

When can babies have coriander?

Around 6 months, both the fresh cilantro leaf and the ground seed, in the amounts used in cooking.

Are cilantro and coriander the same?

They come from the same plant. In the US, the leaf is called cilantro and the ground seed is called coriander.

What if my baby makes a face at cilantro?

To some people cilantro tastes soapy, which is partly genetic. Your baby may love it or not, and that is their own verdict to make.

What goes well with coriander?

Lentils, rice, and carrot are great starting points, and it fits naturally into curries and beans.

← All baby-safe spices · 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 free

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.

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.