Yam
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Not a sweet potato · cook fully
When can babies eat yam?
Soft, fully cooked yam can start when your baby is ready for solids, at about 6 months. This entry is about the true yam (Dioscorea), not the sweet potato.
A yam is a starchy tuber wrapped in coarse, scaly brown skin. Yam is native to Asia and Africa. Other roots such as oca and taro are sometimes called yam but are botanically different. Yam is boiled, mashed, fried and milled into flour, and it is central to African and Caribbean cooking. In Ghana, oto (eto), a purée of yam or plantain served with boiled eggs, is a festive dish.
In some countries sweet potatoes are called yams, though they come from entirely different plant families.
Yam supplies plenty of carbohydrate and good fiber. It is packed with potassium, supplies B vitamins such as B6, and adds a little vitamin C. Purple yam is especially rich in antioxidants. Yam flour is often enriched, for example with protein, calcium, iron, zinc or vitamins A and C, so read the label.
Not a sweet potato
In some countries sweet potatoes are called yams. This entry covers the true yam with thick, scaly skin. Check the label and the botanical name.
How do you prepare yam for babies?
Always cook fully
Serve yam only when fully cooked. Raw yam sometimes holds cyanogens and plant compounds called anti-nutrients. Washing, soaking, boiling or roasting breaks most of them down, and for healthy people they are mostly harmless within a varied diet. Stay away from wild bitter yam, which may be toxic.
Yams keep their nutrition for about 2 weeks in a cool, dark, airy place. Do not refrigerate them or seal them in a container, since they spoil faster.
Heavy metals
As happens with rice and some other crops, yam can absorb small amounts of lead, arsenic, and similar metals from soil polluted by industry. Organic produce can contain them too. If your baby eats many different foods and you do not rely heavily on ones prone to heavy metals, such as yam, rice and sweet potato, there is no need to worry.
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: Finger strip
Cook the yam until a fork slides in easily, then cut it into long spears. Your baby can grip and gnaw them. Stir in some butter, oil or yogurt for healthy fat, and season lightly if you wish. To encourage spoon use, fill a spoon and set it near the food, or hold it out in the air.
6 months · How to prepare as a mashmash
Lightly mash or purée the cooked yam. Your baby can scoop it by hand or with a spoon. Fat and spice can be added. Yam is a new food, so begin with a small amount.
9 months
9 months · How to prepare as small piecescube
Cut: Bite sized piece
As the pincer grasp develops, cut cooked yam into bite-sized pieces. You can keep offering spears for biting practice. Thin slices with the skin on are fine too. Many babies chew on the peel, then spit it out. It looks wasteful, but it builds comfort with skin, grinding skills and spitting.
12 months
12 months · How to prepare for meals and fork practicecube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Keep serving cooked yam alone or in family dishes. Hand over small pieces together with a fork that you have already loaded. Making a little sound as you spear a piece adds fun. Steady fork use usually comes between 18 and 24 months.
Is yam a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
Not a choking risk once cooked soft. Cook until a fork pierces it easily. Never serve raw yam.
Yam cooked soft is not a choking risk. Make sure it is fully cooked and soft. Raw yam is hard and risky. Stay close during meals.
Is yam a common allergen?
Yam is not a common allergen, though yam allergy has been reported. Any food could in theory cause an allergy. Oral allergy syndrome caused by yam is rare, though it has been documented. It usually means brief itching in the mouth, and a dangerous reaction is unlikely. Cooking the yam lowers the reaction.
First try
As with any new food, start with a small amount for the first few servings. If there is no reaction, increase it gradually.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about yam
Is yam the same as sweet potato?
No. True yam and sweet potato belong to different plant families. In some countries sweet potatoes are labeled yams.
Can yam be served raw?
No. Raw yam is hard and sometimes contains cyanogens. Always cook it fully.
Can my baby eat the skin?
After 9 months thin slices with skin are fine. Your baby might chew the peel and then spit it out, and that is normal.
Can yam contain heavy metals?
Depending on the soil, trace amounts of lead and arsenic are possible. Serve a wide variety of foods and do not rely too much on yam, rice and sweet potato.
Sources for this page
- González N, Marquès M, Nadal M, Domingo JL. (2019). Occurrence of environmental pollutants in foodstuffs: A review of organic vs. conventional food. Food and Chemical Toxicology. doi:10.1016/j.fct.2019.01.021
- Sussman G, Sussman A, Sussman D. (2010). Oral allergy syndrome. Canadian Medical Association Journal. doi:10.1503/cmaj.090314
- 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.
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