Jicama
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- medium
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Crisp, mildly sweet root vegetable
When can babies eat jicama?
Jicama can start when your baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months. It is a starchy root native to Central America. It has a crisp bite and a mildly sweet taste, and is often paired with chili, citrus juice and vinegar.
It supplies carbohydrate, fiber and fluid, plus potassium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. These help with energy, gut health and fluid balance. Vitamin C also helps the body absorb iron.
How do you prepare jicama for babies?
Choosing and storing
Pick a firm, heavy one. Whole jicama with its skin on keeps in a cool, dark place for up to 4 months. After slicing, store it sealed in the fridge, where it lasts a few days. Keep it away from moisture.
Preparing by age
At 6 months, serve it cooked and mashed. At 9 months, small cooked pieces and thin raw slices work. Try matchsticks and grated raw jicama only when your child chews well. Always peel it.
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.
6 months
6 months · How to prepare as a mashmash
Cut: Fork mashed
Peel the jicama and cook it until very soft. Mash it with a fork. Your baby can scoop it by hand or eat from a loaded spoon. You can also grate peeled raw jicama very finely and stir it into a soft food such as porridge or vegetable purée.
9 months
9 months · How to prepare as small piecescube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Peel the jicama, cook it until soft, and cut it into bite-sized pieces. Your baby practices picking them up with the fingertips. Grated raw jicama can stick in the mouth and cause gagging, so offer it in small amounts.
9 months · How to prepare for biting practiceslice
Cut: Thick wedge
Slice peeled raw jicama into rounds about 1 cm thick. Your baby uses the slice to practice biting. If a large piece comes off, stay calm and let your baby spit it out or chew it. You can keep offering cooked wedges at this age.
12 months
12 months · How to prepare as sticks and slicesstrip
If you feel confident in your child's eating skills, you can cut peeled jicama into thin matchsticks. Sources suggest this shape from about 18 months. For extra safety, keep serving thin round slices or cooked pieces. You can add it cooked or raw to salads and meals.
Is jicama a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: medium
Raw or undercooked jicama is hard and slippery. Cook it well, mash it, or grate it finely.
Raw or undercooked jicama is hard and slippery, so it carries a choking risk. For younger babies, cook it well and mash it. Grated raw jicama can pile up in the mouth and cause gagging, so offer small amounts. Stay with your baby at meals, within arm's reach.
Raw and hard pieces
Do not give large raw jicama pieces to a young baby.
Is jicama a common allergen?
Jicama is not a common allergen. Allergy to it is rare but has been reported. Those with oral allergy syndrome may feel a short itch, tingle or burn inside the mouth, which is usually not dangerous. Cooking can lessen the reaction. As with any new food, keep the first few servings small.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about jicama
When can a baby eat jicama?
Once your baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months. Start with cooked, mashed jicama.
Can I serve jicama raw?
After 9 months you can offer finely grated or 1 cm thick raw slices. At 6 months, cook it. Try matchsticks once your child chews well.
Do I need to peel it?
Yes. Peel jicama before serving it to your baby.
Can jicama cause an allergy?
Rarely. People with oral allergy syndrome may get brief mouth itching. Cooking can reduce it.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- Bedolla-Barajas M, Ramses Bedolla-Pulido T, Morales-Romero J, Mariscal-Castro J, González.Mendoza T. (2022). Oral Allergy Syndrome Associated with Jicama. Medical Journal of the Islamic Republic of Iran. doi:10.47176/mjiri.36.26
- Kashyap RR, Kashyap RS. (2015). Kashyap RR, Kashyap RS. Journal of Allergy 2015:543928. Journal of Allergy. doi:10.1155/2015/543928
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