Cranberry beans
Usually introduced around 6 months
Prep warning
Cook beans until very soft and serve without added salt. Always mash or flatten them so no whole round bean is left.
Choking notes
A whole bean is round, firm and slippery, which makes it a choking hazard. Mash or flatten every bean so none stays intact, and cook them until very soft.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Cook cranberry beans until very soft, then mash or flatten each one so no whole bean stays round and intact. A smooth, no-salt bean mash works well, on its own or stirred into a purée. Pair with a vitamin C food to help the body take up the iron.
Mashed or flattened, no whole round bean.
9-12 months
As the pincer grasp develops, offer soft cooked beans lightly mashed or squashed. Flatten each bean so it is no longer a round whole piece.
Squashed or halved, never a whole round bean.
12-18 months
Serve soft beans in family-style dishes, lightly squashing the larger ones. Keep round beans flattened until your child chews reliably.
Lightly squashed soft beans, larger ones flattened.
Key nutrients
Common questions
When can my baby eat Cranberry beans?
Most babies can try Cranberry beans from around 6 months, once they show signs of readiness. Check the prep and cut-size notes above before you start.
General informational content, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about introducing new foods, especially if your baby has any medical conditions or family history of allergies.
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