Brussels sprouts
Tiny cabbages with a big flavor. Cook them soft and always cut them up.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Babies can eat brussels sprouts from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.
How to serve brussels sprouts by age
6 months+
Mashed, or quartered and pressed flat
Steam trimmed sprouts until very soft, then mash them with a fork, on their own or mixed into mashed potato, and serve on a pre-loaded spoon. Or cut very soft sprouts into quarters lengthwise and press each quarter flat.
- Size
- Mashed, or quartered lengthwise and pressed flat, with no whole or round pieces.
- Check before serving
- Squash a quarter between your thumb and finger. It should flatten completely. If the center feels firm, cook it longer.
US and UK advice differ here. The AAP suggests mashed food or soft pieces no larger than ½ inch; the NHS suggests soft finger-sized pieces your baby can hold in their fist. Both agree the food must squash easily.
9 months+
Small soft pieces
Quarter soft-cooked sprouts, then chop into small pieces. Offer as finger food or mix into pasta, rice or eggs.
- Size
- Pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Each piece, including the core, should squash flat between your thumb and finger.
12 months+
Quartered or chopped
Serve soft-cooked sprouts cut into quarters lengthwise or chopped, on the side or in family dishes. Never serve them whole.
- Size
- Quarters or small soft pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Still do the squash test: soft enough to flatten with gentle pressure.
18 months+
Quartered or chopped, soft-cooked
Keep cutting sprouts into quarters or smaller pieces and cooking them until soft. Never serve them whole or in halves. If a quarter is bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), cut it smaller. Roasted is fine if it's soft all the way through: trim crisp outer leaves. The AAP says to cut food for young children into pieces no larger than one-half inch, and to keep high-risk foods away until about 4 years, depending on the child.
- Size
- Quarters or bite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Still do the squash test, especially with roasted sprouts.
Always have your child sit upright in a high chair or at the table, and stay with them the whole time they eat. Keep to the size and texture for their stage. Every baby develops on their own timeline.
How to prepare brussels sprouts
- 1
Trim the stem end and pull off any loose or yellow outer leaves, then rinse the sprouts under running water.
- 2
Cut each sprout in half lengthwise so it cooks through.
- 3
Steam for about 8 to 10 minutes, until a knife slides through the core with no resistance. Don't add salt to the cooking water.
- 4
Let them cool, then mash, or cut each half lengthwise again into quarters and press flat (6 months), or chop into pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch) (9 months+). Never serve halves or whole sprouts. Do the squash test before serving.
How much to offer
Start with a teaspoon or two of mash, or one or two flattened quarters. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Lots of licking, squashing and dropping is normal at first.
Common mistakes
Serving them whole
Whole sprouts are round and firm, the kind of shape that can block a child's airway. Always cut them into quarters or small pieces, even when cooked.
Cooking them crisp-tender
The texture adults like is too firm for babies. The core should squash between your fingers.
Leaving crisp roasted leaves
Charred, crispy outer leaves can be hard and dry. Trim them off for babies and young toddlers.
Stopping after a few refusals
Bitter vegetables often take 10 or more tries. Offering them from the start may help prevent fussy eating later.
Questions parents ask
Can brussels sprouts be a choking hazard for babies?
Brussels sprouts are round and firm, and raw ones are hard: a choking hazard for babies and young children. The CDC lists pieces of hard raw vegetables as foods to avoid, and the NHS says to cut small round foods into quarters. Cook sprouts until very soft and always quarter them or chop them small. Never serve them whole. Stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to brussels sprouts?
Brussels sprouts are not a common allergen.
Are brussels sprouts healthy for babies?
A good source of vitamin C: cooked Brussels sprouts have about 62 mg per 100 g, and a small serving (30 g, about 1 oz) gives about 19 mg. Babies 7–12 months need 50 mg a day and children 1–3 years need 15 mg. They also provide vitamin K and folate. Vitamin C helps the body absorb the iron in plant foods, such as beans, lentils and iron-fortified cereal.
Can Brussels sprouts give my baby gas?
They might. Brussels sprouts belong to the cruciferous vegetable family, which the NIH lists among foods that can lead to gas in some people. Start with a small amount mixed into other foods.
Can I use frozen Brussels sprouts?
Yes. Frozen sprouts work just as well. Cook them until very soft, then quarter or chop them and do the squash test.
Can babies eat roasted Brussels sprouts?
Yes, if they're soft all the way through. Cut them in quarters, and trim off crisp or charred leaves for babies and young toddlers.
If your baby refuses brussels sprouts
- Bitter vegetables often take 10 or more tries. Keep offering a little, alongside foods your baby already likes.
- Try them mashed into potato, or chopped into pasta, egg or rice.
- Eat some yourself at the same meal. Babies copy what they see.
- Funny faces don't mean they dislike it. They're getting used to a new taste and texture.
Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.
Buying and storing brussels sprouts
- Keep raw Brussels sprouts in the fridge, at or below 40°F (4°C).
- Cooked Brussels sprouts keep for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge. Rice dishes are the exception: cool them within 1 hour, keep them in the fridge for no more than 1 day, and reheat them only once.
- Cooked, chopped sprouts or mash can be frozen and used within 3 months. Thaw them in the fridge, use them within 24 hours of thawing, and reheat them only once, to 165°F (74°C), until steaming hot, then let them cool before serving.
- Throw away any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it's hotter than 90°F / 32°C).
When to talk to your doctor
Contact your pediatrician, GP or health visitor if:
- You notice mild signs of an allergic reaction after eating, such as a few hives or a little vomiting. See signs of a reaction.
- You're worried about how much your baby eats, their growth, or they refuse most solid food for weeks.
Call 911999your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) now if your baby has trouble breathing, wheezing, can't cough or cry, has lips, mouth, tongue or throat that suddenly swell, or becomes pale, bluish, floppy or unresponsive. Also call if hives come with repeated vomiting.
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Helpful guides
Sources
- CDC: Choking hazards
- AAP: Choking prevention for babies and children
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- NHS: Help your baby enjoy new foods
- USDA FoodData Central: Brussels sprouts, cooked, boiled, drained, without salt
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin C
- NIDDK (NIH): Eating, diet and nutrition for gas
- FDA: 7 tips for cleaning fruits and vegetables
- Food Standards Agency: Home food fact checker
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
- AAP: Is it OK to make my own baby food?
- NHS Best Start in Life: Storing and reheating food
More first foods
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