Prep warning
Wheat is one of the major food allergens, so introduce it on its own and watch for a reaction before combining it with other new foods. Serve it soft and moist with no added salt or sugar, and keep hard kernels, dry seeded crackers, crusty bread chunks, and popcorn off the menu for now.
Choking notes
Soft cooked wheat foods, pasta, moist bread, couscous, are low risk when kept soft and cut small. The hazards are the hard and dry forms: whole wheat kernels (wheat berries), hard crusty bread chunks, dry seeded crackers, and popcorn, which are difficult to chew and can be inhaled. Soft bread can also clump into a sticky wad in the mouth, so offer small pieces with a drink and stay nearby.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Wheat is one of the common food allergens, so it helps to offer it on its own first, in a small amount, and watch over the next couple of days before adding other new foods. Good early forms are a thick iron-fortified wheat cereal, soft well-cooked pasta, or lightly toasted bread cut into finger-width strips. Keep everything soft and moist, with no added salt or sugar.
Spoonable cereal, soft pasta, or finger-width strips of toast.
9-12 months
As your baby picks up smaller pieces, offer small soft pasta shapes, mashed cooked wheat dishes like soft couscous, or soft bread torn into bite-size pieces, about half an inch. Avoid whole hard wheat kernels (wheat berries) and dry, seeded crackers, which are hard to chew. Soft bread can stick into a doughy wad, so offer small pieces and a sip of water alongside.
Small soft pasta, mashed cooked grains, or bread in bite-size pieces (about half an inch).
12-18 months
Wheat fits easily into family meals now: soft cooked pasta, couscous, soft breads, and tortillas, chopped into small pieces. Avoid hard, dry, and crumbly forms like crusty bread chunks and seeded crackers, and skip popcorn, which stays a choking risk at this age. Keep added salt and sugar low, and favor whole-grain or fortified wheat where you can for the extra fiber and iron.
Soft cooked grains, pasta, or bread chopped small; avoid hard, dry, and crumbly forms.
Key nutrients
Allergen information
Wheat is a common allergen. Read Wheat guidance
Common questions
When can my baby eat Wheat?
Most babies can try Wheat 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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