When can babies eat butternut squash?

From around 6 months, once your baby is ready for solids, served in a safe shape and texture for their age.

Butternut squash

Silky, sweet and mild. Roast it soft and watch them dig in.

Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review

Quick answer

Babies can eat butternut squash from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.

From 6 monthsLow choking risk as servedNot a common allergen

How to serve butternut squash by age

6 months+

Soft roasted sticks or mashed squash

Peel, scoop out the seeds, and cut into finger-sized sticks. Steam or roast until very soft. Or mash cooked squash and serve it on a pre-loaded spoon.

Size: Sticks about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in).
Check before serving: Squash a stick between your thumb and finger. It should flatten easily. If you have to press hard, 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.

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 butternut squash

1
Scrub the squash with a clean vegetable brush under running water, then peel it with a sturdy peeler.
2
Cut it in half, scoop out all the seeds and stringy bits, and cut it into finger-sized sticks (6 months).
3
Steam for about 10 to 15 minutes, or roast at 400°F (200°C) for about 25 to 30 minutes, until a knife slides through with no resistance.
4
Do the squash test, then let it cool before serving. Don't add salt.

How much to offer

Start with one or two sticks or a spoonful of mash. 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 roasted squash seeds

The CDC lists whole or chopped seeds as a choking hazard for young children. Scoop them all out and don't serve them, roasted or raw.

Leaving the skin on

Butternut skin stays tough even after cooking. Peel it for babies and toddlers.

Undercooking it

Raw squash is very hard. Cook it until it squashes easily between your fingers, all the way through.

Only offering sweet vegetables

Squash is easy to like. Offer less sweet vegetables too, like broccoli and spinach, to help your baby get used to a range of flavors.

Questions parents ask

Can butternut squash be a choking hazard for babies?

Butternut squash cooked until very soft is a low choking risk. Raw squash is very hard, so never serve it raw, and trim crisp or browned edges from roasted pieces. Remove every seed: the CDC lists whole or chopped seeds as a choking hazard. Stay with your child during meals.

Can babies be allergic to butternut squash?

Butternut squash is not a common allergen.

Is butternut squash healthy for babies?

Rich in beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A, and a source of vitamin C and fiber. It is not a major source of iron.

Can babies eat butternut squash skin?

Peel it. The skin stays tough and chewy even when the flesh is soft.

Can I use frozen butternut squash?

Yes. Frozen cubes are already peeled. Cook them until very soft, then mash them or cut them into sticks or small pieces.

Can babies eat butternut squash every day?

Yes, as part of a varied diet. Mix it up with other vegetables, including ones that aren't sweet, so your baby gets used to lots of flavors.

Can squash turn my baby's skin orange?

Eating a lot of beta-carotene, from foods like squash, carrot and sweet potato, can turn the skin yellow-orange. It's harmless and fades when your baby eats less of these foods. The whites of the eyes stay white. If they look yellow, see your doctor: that isn't from food.

If your baby refuses butternut squash

Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
Try another form: roasted sticks, lumpy mash, or stirred into pasta 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 butternut squash

Store a whole, uncut squash somewhere cool and dry. Once cut, wrap it and keep it in the fridge.
Cooked squash keeps 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 sticks 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:

Your baby's skin looks yellow and the whites of their eyes look yellow too. Beta-carotene colors the skin but not the whites of the eyes, so yellow eyes need a check-up.
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.

Offered butternut squash?

Add it to your first 100 foods.