Brussels sprouts

Brussels sprouts can start when your baby is about 6 months old and ready for solids. They belong to the same plant family as cabbage and broccoli, bred from wild cabbage around the Mediterranean. They like cool weather. They are named after the Belgian city of Brussels. They can taste bitter. Newer varieties are less bitter, sweeter and a bit nutty.

Fiber, folate, potassium, vitamin K and B vitamins are plentiful. They also supply vitamin E, choline, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C and magnesium. A small amount of plant omega-3 (ALA) supports brain development.

Start big and soft

For a 6-month-old you can serve a whole large sprout (wider than baby's mouth, so at least 2 inches across) cooked until soft. Halves or quarters of a large sprout also work. If the sprouts are small, cook them, then shred or chop and stir into a scoopable food such as mashed potato. Cooked shreds served alone can stick to the tongue and the inside of the mouth and cause harmless gagging.

From 9 months, offer soft quarters or bite-sized pieces. Babies this age may overfill the mouth. Make sure the sprouts are fully soft and guide your baby when the mouth is too full.

Raw sprouts

From 9 months you can try raw sprouts shredded or grated very fine. Small raw pieces can stick in the mouth and cause gagging or spitting. To ease this, cook the sprouts or offer a sip of water from an open cup.

From 12 months, once your child chews with confidence, cook the sprouts a little less and offer firmer quarters. Put bite-sized pieces on a fork and lay it beside the plate for your child to take. This supports self-feeding.

Sprouts that are raw or undercooked are tough to chew, which adds to the choking risk. Cook them until soft and cut them in an age-appropriate way. Stay with your baby during meals.

Brussels sprouts are not a common allergen. Allergy is rare but possible. People sensitive to other cruciferous vegetables, such as mustard greens or cauliflower, may react to them too. People allergic to mugwort may feel a brief itch, tingle or burn inside the mouth. This is called oral allergy syndrome and is usually not dangerous.

Start with a small amount for the first few meals. If there is no reaction, increase the amount gradually.