Cabbage
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
High in fiber, may cause gas · serve finely cut
When can babies eat cabbage?
Cabbage can start when your baby is about 6 months old and ready for solids. People bred cabbage from wild plants growing on the fertile land around the Mediterranean. Some varieties have smooth, waxy, tightly packed leaves, as in green and red cabbage. Others have crinkled leaves that come away from the head with ease, as napa and savoy do. There are also dark leafy relatives on sturdy stems.
Cabbage brings plenty of fiber, water and folate, plus vitamins B6, C and K and assorted antioxidants. These nutrients support the gut microbiome, hydration, brain development, iron absorption, immunity, blood clotting and bones.
How do you prepare cabbage for babies?
Cut fine, stir into soft food
Grated or finely minced cabbage is easier to eat when stirred into a scoopable food such as mashed potato or porridge. From 9 months, thin shreds and large cooked strips can be picked up by hand. Raw cabbage is tough to break down while chewing, so do not be surprised if small raw shreds get spat out.
From 12 months, cooked cabbage can be served as pieces, strips or whole leaves. Keep serving raw cabbage shredded or finely chopped. After 18 months, many children can manage more roughly cut raw cabbage.
Gas and nitrates
Because cabbage has plenty of fiber and carbohydrates, it may bring on gas and a short bout of stomach discomfort. If fiber-rich foods are served regularly in amounts your baby tolerates, digestion adapts over time. Some gas is normal at any age.
Some vegetables, cabbage among them, contain natural nitrates. Babies who feed themselves rarely eat large amounts of solids. Nitrates in vegetables are mostly not a concern. In a varied diet, the benefit of these vegetables outweighs the unlikely risk.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
Prep time: 25 min
6 months
6 months · How to prepare as a puréemash
Cut: Finely chopped
Remove the tough center rib, cook the leaves until soft, chop them finely and stir them into potato or carrot purée. It can cause gas, so try a small amount the first time. Raw cabbage is not served at this age.
9 months
9 months · How to servestrip
Cut: Finely chopped
Cut cooked leaves into thin strips and stir them into rice or a main dish. A long piece of leaf can stick to the palate, so cut the strips crosswise too. You can serve the filling of a lightly salted stuffed cabbage roll, mashed.
12 months
12 months · How to cut and servecube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Serve cooked cabbage in small pieces, or set aside a portion of lightly salted kapuska stew or stuffed cabbage rolls. After 12 months you can try raw cabbage salad in small amounts, grated very fine.
Is cabbage a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
Chunky raw cabbage is tough going to chew. Grate it or mince it finely. Cooked bits can stick to the tongue and cause gagging.
Chunky raw cabbage is tough to chew, so the choking risk goes up. Grate it, mince it or slice it very thin. Cooked bits can stick to the tongue and inside of the mouth and cause harmless gagging. Stay with your baby during meals.
Is cabbage a common allergen?
Cabbage is not a common allergen. Allergy is rare but not unheard of. Cabbage may also bother people who react to other cruciferous vegetables, mustard greens and broccoli among them. People sensitive to mugwort pollen can notice a short itch, tingle, or burn in the mouth. This is called oral allergy syndrome and is usually not dangerous.
Start with a small amount the first time and watch your baby's response.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about cabbage
Does cabbage cause gas in babies?
It can. It has lots of fiber and carbohydrates. Start with a small amount. Digestion adapts over time.
When can I serve raw cabbage?
Raw cabbage is served minced or grated very fine and stirred into a soft food. Thick raw pieces are a choking risk.
Can I give fermented cabbage?
According to the source, finely chopped fermented cabbage such as kimchi or sauerkraut can be served from 6 months and supplies probiotics. Check the label for salt content.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- NHS. (n.d.). Preparing food safely for babies.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- Vovolis V, Poulios G, Koutsostathis N. (2009). ΙgE‐mediated allergy to raw cabbage but not to cooked. Allergy. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2009.02007.x
- Hermanides HK, Laheÿ‐ de Boer AM, Zuidmeer L, Guikers C, van Ree R, Knulst AC. (2006). Brassica oleracea pollen, a new source of occupational allergens. Allergy. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2006.01055.x
- Brkić D, Bošnir J, Bevardi M, Bošković AG, Miloš S, Lasić D, et al. (2017). NITRATE IN LEAFY GREEN VEGETABLES AND ESTIMATED INTAKE. African Journal of Traditional, Complementary and Alternative Medicines. doi:10.21010/ajtcam.v14i3.4
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com