Peas

You can offer peas once your baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months. Whole, loose peas are a choking risk, so learn how to prepare them safely.

Peas belong to the large legume family that also includes soy and peanut. They are native to the region where Africa, Asia and Europe meet. Fresh peas keep poorly. Canning and flash freezing mean they are easy to find today.

Peas are rich in carbohydrates, fiber and protein. They also carry folate, vitamin B6 and zinc. These support energy, gut bacteria, nervous system growth, metabolism, immunity and taste. They contain antioxidants too.

Frozen and canned

Cook frozen peas first, then mash or press them flat to suit your baby's age. Still-frozen, hard peas pose a choking risk and a foodborne illness risk.

Canned peas work too. Pick low-salt ones if you can. If not, ordinary canned peas still suit a varied diet.

Digestion and gas

Peas can cause gas, which makes people think they are hard to digest. In fact their undigested fibers feed friendly gut bacteria. Offer fibrous foods slowly and regularly.

Pea protein milk

It can go into solid food as an ingredient. Wait until the first birthday before serving it regularly as a drink, because it must not push out breast milk or formula.

Peas are small and round, and sometimes firm. These traits raise the choking risk.

Prepare peas to suit your baby's age. At 6 months mash them smooth or flatten them with a fork. At 9 months flatten them and place them straight on the tray. After 12 months you can serve them whole. Stay close while your baby eats and keep them upright.

Peas seldom cause allergy. Pea allergy is reported more often as pea products and hidden pea sources in processed plant foods become more common. In some people with G6PD deficiency, known as favism, peas may trigger the condition.

Pea allergy has been seen in some people allergic to chickpea and lentil. Being allergic to one legume does not mean allergy to all of them, but the chance of more than one can rise. Most people with peanut or soy allergy eat peas without trouble. Still, some people with peanut allergy have reacted to processed foods with a lot of pea protein isolate. With a known peanut allergy in your baby, be careful with foods made with pea protein isolate.

Peas can also trigger a delayed allergy called FPIES. It shows up as repeated vomiting and diarrhea a few hours after eating. Untreated, it can cause dehydration. Most cases clear up completely in early childhood.

Birch pollen allergy or oral allergy syndrome can make a child sensitive to peas. The mouth itches, tingles or burns for a short time, which is not dangerous. Cooking or canning can reduce the reaction.

Give a small amount the first few times. If there is no reaction, increase the portion.