Parsnip
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- medium
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Cook until soft · long sticks · no coin shapes
When can babies eat parsnip?
You can introduce parsnip once your baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months.
Parsnip is a white root vegetable that people often mistake for a carrot, though the two differ. It is starchy, sweet and more fibrous. You can steam and mash it, fold it into grain dishes, or even mix it into bread and muffin batter.
Copper, folate, fiber, and vitamin C are abundant in parsnip. It gives healthy carbohydrates for energy. Together they help with growth, immunity, vision, the heart, iron absorption, and regular digestion.
How do you prepare parsnip for babies?
Always cook it
Cook parsnip until soft before giving it to your baby. Steaming or roasting both work.
Its earthy taste and hearty texture can stand in for meat. To try it in ground-meat dishes, grate it and cook it through.
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 long sticksstrip
Cut: Finger strip
Cook the parsnip until soft and cut large, long pieces lengthwise. Babies this age like holding big pieces. Small pieces can be swallowed whole by accident, so large ones are safer. Do not slice into coins.
6 months · How to prepare as a mashmash
Cut: Fork mashed
Mash the cooked parsnip. Add a bit of olive oil, unsalted butter, or whichever fat you like. Serve the mash alone or fold it into grain dishes.
12 months
12 months · How to prepare as matchsticksstrip
Cut: Finger strip
Keep offering cooked parsnip as matchsticks for finger food. You can use parsnip in any recipe that calls for a root vegetable. It can stand in for ground meat in savory pies, casseroles or tacos.
12 months · How to prepare as small pieces for fork practicecube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Cut cooked parsnip into small pieces for your child to pick up with a fork. You can also fold it into salads or grain dishes. Do not serve raw pieces.
Is parsnip a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: medium
Raw parsnip is a choking risk. Cook it until soft. Do not slice raw or cooked parsnip into coin shapes. Cut long sticks instead.
Raw parsnip carries a choking risk. To lower it, cook the parsnip until soft.
Do not slice raw or cooked parsnip into coin shapes. Long sticks are the best shape. Stay close while your baby eats and keep them upright.
Is parsnip a common allergen?
Parsnip is not a common allergen. Still, in principle anyone could have an allergy to any food.
Give a small amount on its own the first few times. If there is no reaction, increase the portion slowly.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about parsnip
Are parsnips healthy for babies?
Yes. They offer folate, vitamin C, fiber, and copper. They are a good vegetable to rotate in regularly.
Can babies eat raw parsnip?
No. Raw parsnip carries a choking risk. Cook it until soft.
Are parsnips and carrots the same?
No. Parsnips are white, starchier, sweeter and more fibrous. They can replace other root vegetables in recipes.
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.
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