Garlic
Usually introduced around 6 months
Prep warning
Garlic is used as a flavoring, not a food on its own. Cook it until soft and use a small amount, finely minced or mashed into a dish, rather than serving a raw clove or a whole piece. Raw garlic is very strong and can irritate a baby's mouth and stomach, so cooked and well mixed in is the gentle way to introduce its flavor.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Garlic adds depth to early meals without any salt. Finely mince or mash a small amount and cook it soft into purees, mashed vegetables, beans, or sauces. It is a seasoning rather than a finger food, so a little stirred through a dish is all a baby needs. Skip raw garlic and whole cloves at this stage.
Finely minced or mashed and cooked soft into a dish; not a standalone piece.
9-12 months
Keep using garlic as a cooked seasoning, finely minced or mashed into family dishes. There is no need to offer it as a piece on its own. A small amount cooked into the meal carries plenty of flavor.
Finely minced or mashed and cooked into the dish.
12-18 months
Garlic stays a cooked flavoring, minced or mashed into meals. As your toddler handles broader family textures, roasted garlic mashed into vegetables or spread thin on soft toast is a gentle way to enjoy it. Keep amounts small and avoid raw cloves.
Minced, mashed, or roasted soft and stirred into meals; amounts kept small.
Common questions
When can my baby eat Garlic?
Most babies can try Garlic 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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