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Parsley for Babies: When and How to Use It

The easy everyday herb. A little chopped parsley makes almost any savory dish taste fresher.

When to introduce
Around 6 months
Common allergen?
No
Flavor
Fresh, mild, grassy
How to use
Fresh chopped into almost anything

When can babies have parsley?

Parsley is mild and fresh, the easy everyday herb you reach for without a second thought. It lifts almost any savory dish and sneaks in a little vitamin C and K while it is at it.

How to use parsley in baby food

Stirred into savory dishesChop parsley finely and stir it into lentils, chicken, or a vegetable mash right before serving.
With vegetablesA scatter of parsley freshens up potato, carrot, or peas without any salt.
Fresh as a garnishFlat-leaf or curly both work, so finely chop whichever you have and sprinkle it over almost anything savory.

Is parsley safe for babies?

Parsley is safe once your baby starts solids, around 6 months, and it is not a common allergen. Chop it finely so the leaves are not stringy, and wash fresh herbs well before using them. Both flat-leaf and curly parsley work, so use whichever you have. As with any food this age, keep added salt and sugar off the plate before age 1 and let the herb bring the flavor.

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

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Goes well with

Chicken · Lentils · Potato

Storage

Wrap fresh parsley in a damp paper towel in the fridge and use within a week, washing it well just before you chop it.

Frequently asked questions

When can babies have parsley?

Around 6 months, once solids begin. Parsley is mild, fresh, and not a common allergen, which makes it an easy first herb to reach for.

Flat-leaf or curly parsley?

Both work well. Use whichever you have on hand, chopping it finely so the leaves are not stringy for your baby.

Does parsley have any nutrients?

It adds a little vitamin C and K, which is a nice bonus, though you use it in small amounts as a flavor rather than a main food.

What does parsley go with?

Almost any savory dish. It lifts chicken, lentils, potato, and vegetables with a fresh, grassy note.

← All baby-safe spices · The full spices & herbs guide

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How 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.