When can babies eat lentils?

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

Lentils

Cheap, quick to cook and soft enough to mash with a fork.

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

Quick answer

Babies can eat lentils 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 allergenIron-rich

How to serve lentils by age

6 months+

Thick mash or soft lentil fingers

Cook red lentils until they fall apart into a thick, scoopable mash, and load it onto a spoon your baby can hold. Or mix very soft lentils with mashed potato or sweet potato, shape into fingers and bake briefly until they just hold together. They should stay soft all the way through, with no crispy edges.

Size: A thick mash on a pre-loaded spoon, or soft lentil fingers 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 little between your thumb and finger. It should smear flat with no firm lentils left.

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 lentils

1
Tip dried lentils into a sieve, pick out any small stones, and rinse them under running water. Canned lentils: choose no-salt-added and rinse them.
2
Simmer dried lentils in fresh water, without salt, until very soft: about 15 to 20 minutes for red lentils and longer for green or brown. They don't need soaking.
3
Mash or serve whole, depending on your baby's age, and let them cool before serving.
4
First time? Pick a day your baby is well, at home, when you can watch them for a couple of hours afterward.

How much to offer

Start with a teaspoon or two of mash, or one lentil finger. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Lots of squashing and smearing is normal at first.

Common mistakes

Undercooking green or brown lentils

They hold their shape and can stay firm. Cook until each one squashes easily, or use red lentils, which turn to mash.

Using salty canned lentils or stock

Babies shouldn't have added salt. Choose no-salt-added cans, rinse them, and skip stock cubes.

Serving lentils on their own every time

Pair them with a food rich in vitamin C, like broccoli, tomato or red pepper, which helps your baby absorb the iron in plant foods.

Stopping after a few refusals

Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Try another form, like a patty instead of mash.

Questions parents ask

Can lentils be a choking hazard for babies?

Well-cooked lentils are small and soft, so they are a low choking risk. Cook them until each one squashes easily between your fingers, and serve them in a mash or clumps for young babies. Stay with your child during meals.

Can babies be allergic to lentils?

Lentils are not one of the top 9 US allergens, but the NHS lists beans, lentils and peas among foods that can trigger an allergic reaction. Offer a small amount on its own first, and watch for signs of a reaction. Talk to your pediatrician, GP or health visitor first if your baby already has a food allergy or eczema, or if there is a family history of food allergy, eczema, asthma or hay fever. Once lentils are eaten without a reaction, keep offering them as part of usual meals.

Are lentils healthy for babies?

Cooked lentils provide protein, fiber and iron (about 3.3 mg of iron per 100 g, according to USDA FoodData Central). This is nonheme iron, which the body absorbs better when vitamin C is eaten at the same meal.

Are lentils a good source of iron for babies?

Yes, for a plant food. Lentils are on the NIH's list of iron sources. Serve them with a vitamin C food, like broccoli, tomato or red pepper, to help your baby absorb the iron.

Can lentils cause gas?

They can. Lentils and beans contain carbohydrates that are only partly digested, and gut bacteria make gas as they break them down. A little extra wind is common and usually settles as your baby gets used to them.

Can lentils help with constipation?

Lentils contain fiber, and the NIH lists lentils among fiber foods for children with constipation, along with plenty to drink. The NIH also says fiber guidelines aren't set for babies under 1 year. Offer sips of water with meals, and talk to your pediatrician, GP or health visitor if your baby is often constipated.

Which lentils are best for babies?

Red lentils are easiest at first, because they cook quickly and turn to mash. Green and brown lentils work too, once cooked until each one squashes easily.

If your baby refuses lentils

Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
Try another form: mash on a spoon, lentil fingers, 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 lentils

Keep dried lentils in a sealed container in a cool, dry cupboard.
Cooked lentils keep for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge. Move leftover canned lentils out of the can into a covered container. Rice dishes, such as dal with rice, 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 lentils and lentil fingers can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Reheat 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 already has a food allergy or eczema, or there is a family history of food allergy, eczema, asthma or hay fever. Ask before introducing lentils and other legumes.
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 lentils?

Add it to your first 100 foods.