Turnip
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- medium
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Fiber-rich root · cook until soft
When can babies eat turnip?
Turnip root and leaves can start when your baby is ready for solids, at about 6 months. This entry covers the vegetable, not the fermented Turkish drink of the same name.
Turnip is a vegetable native to Central Asia. Both the round root and the peppery leaves are eaten. Broccoli rabe and napa cabbage are its relatives.
The root offers fiber, plant-based omega-3 fats and B vitamins such as B6. It contains compounds called glucosinolates. Purple types add extra antioxidants. The leaves are rich in vitamin A, folate, fiber, vitamin E, zinc and calcium.
Shopping tip
Buy the root with its leaves when you can. Leaves wilt within days, so use them first. The root lasts much longer in the fridge or a cool, dark spot.
How do you prepare turnip for babies?
Cooking
To keep nutrients, steam or sauté turnip instead of boiling it. For your baby, mash it with butter or cream. You can season the adult portion afterward with spices and herbs. Cutting the root into wedges and roasting them like fries also works. The leaves can be braised gently. Pairing turnip with apple balances the root's earthy bitterness with sweetness.
Digestion
Turnip has both soluble and insoluble fiber, which help digestion and regularity. Its raffinose can cause gas in some children, so begin with a little and build up. Bowel habits vary a lot from child to child. Talk to your pediatrician if you are worried.
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 cut and serve for baby-led weaningstrip
Cut: Thick wedge
Cook the turnip until soft and cut it into large wedges. Your baby can grip them in a fist and gnaw. Keep the wedges thick enough to hold easily.
6 months · How to prepare as a mashmash
Cut: Fork mashed
Mash cooked turnip so your baby can scoop it by hand or with a spoon. The mash glues together iron-rich foods that are hard to pick up alone, such as quinoa, lentils and seeds, which cuts the mess. The leaves are edible too. Chop cooked leaves very finely and stir them into the mash or yogurt.
9 months
9 months · How to prepare as small piecescube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Cut soft, cooked turnip into bite-sized pieces. You can keep offering large wedges too. Bigger pieces give your baby practice at judging how much to bite off.
12 months
12 months · How to prepare pieces and raw shredscube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Keep serving cooked turnip in bite-sized pieces, on its own or in dishes. You can work mashed root into pancake batter, fritters, dumplings, meatballs, or bean patties. When your child is able to bite off and tear food with teeth or gums, raw turnip is possible if it is grated or sliced paper-thin.
Is turnip a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: medium
Raw or undercooked turnip is firm and risky. Cook it soft and chop the leaves finely.
Raw or undercooked turnip is firm, so it is a choking risk, since it is tough to chew and to break apart. Cook the root until soft, and mince the leaves after cooking. Stay close to your baby during meals.
Raw turnip
Offer raw turnip only after 12 months, at a stage when your child can bite off and tear food with teeth or gums, and grate it or slice it paper-thin.
Is turnip a common allergen?
Turnip is not a common allergen. Turnip allergy is uncommon but has been reported. Turnip belongs to the cruciferous family, so anyone allergic or sensitive to its relatives, for instance broccoli or mustard greens, could be sensitive to it too. People with a latex allergy might also be more prone to turnip allergy.
First try
As with any new food, start small for the first few servings. If there is no reaction, increase the amount gradually.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about turnip
Can turnips help babies poop?
Its soluble and insoluble fiber can support regularity. It may cause gas, so start small. Ask your pediatrician if you are concerned.
Can babies eat turnip greens?
Yes. Cook them, chop very finely and stir into mash or yogurt.
Can turnip be served raw?
After 12 months, grated or paper-thin slices are fine if your child can bite off and tear food with teeth or gums. For babies, serve it cooked.
What can I cook with turnip?
Steam and mash it, roast wedges, stew it with meat or sauté the leaves. Apple pairs nicely with it.
Sources for this page
- Nor NDM, Lignou S, Bell L, Houston-Price C, Harvey K, Methven L. (2020). The Relationship between Glucosinolates and the Sensory Characteristics of Steamed-Pureed Turnip (Brassica Rapa subsp. Rapa L.). Foods. doi:10.3390/foods9111719
- Mohd Nor ND, Houston-Price C, Harvey K, Methven L. (2021). The effects of taste sensitivity and repeated taste exposure on children's intake and liking of turnip (Brassica rapa subsp. rapa); a bitter Brassica vegetable. Appetite. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2020.104991
- Sikorska-Zimny K, Beneduce L. (2021). The Metabolism of Glucosinolates by Gut Microbiota. Nutrients. doi:10.3390/nu13082750
- Cao Q, Wang G, Peng Y. (2021). A Critical Review on Phytochemical Profile and Biological Effects of Turnip (Brassica rapa L.). Frontiers in Nutrition. doi:10.3389/fnut.2021.721733
- Poikonen S, Puumalainen TJ, Kautiainen H, Burri P, Palosuo T, Reunala T, et al. (2006). Turnip rape and oilseed rape are new potential food allergens in children with atopic dermatitis. Allergy. doi:10.1111/j.1398-9995.2005.00929.x
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