When can babies eat lettuce?

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

Lettuce

Mild and fresh. Wilted soft for babies, finely shredded for toddlers.

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

Quick answer

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

From 6 monthsMedium choking risk as servedNot a common allergen

How to serve lettuce by age

6 months+

Cooked soft, then blended or very finely chopped

Cut out the thick rib, then wilt the leaves in a pan with a splash of water, or simmer them in a soup, until soft. Blend or chop them very finely and stir them into mashed potato, mashed peas or a vegetable purée. Lettuce on its own is mostly water, so it works best mixed into something your baby can scoop.

Size: Cooked until soft, then blended or very finely chopped and mixed into a mashed food.
Check before serving: Squash a bit of cooked lettuce between your thumb and finger. It should be soft and limp, with no crunchy rib 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 lettuce

1
Remove the outermost leaves of the head and throw away any damaged or slimy ones.
2
Rinse each leaf under running water, rubbing it gently with your fingers. Don't use soap or produce wash. Pat dry with a clean towel. Bagged salad labeled pre-washed or ready-to-eat can be used without washing again.
3
Cut out the thick central rib, then shred or chop the soft part of the leaf.
4
For babies under 1, wilt or simmer the lettuce until soft, then blend or chop it finely. Don't add salt, and let it cool before serving.

How much to offer

Start with a spoonful of cooked, finely chopped lettuce mixed into a food your baby already eats. 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

Handing a baby raw leaves

The AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year and says most vegetables should be cooked until soft. For babies, wilt lettuce, then blend or chop it finely.

Skipping the rinse

The CDC lists unwashed lettuce and other leafy greens as a riskier choice for children under 5. Rinse each leaf under running water, unless the bag says pre-washed. Washed and then cooked is safest.

Leaving crunchy ribs in

The thick white rib of romaine and iceberg is firm and stays crunchy when the leaf wilts. Cut it out and use the soft, leafy part.

Adding salty dressing

Babies shouldn't have salt added to their food. Serve lettuce plain, or with a little plain yogurt or olive oil once those are in your baby's diet.

Where US and UK guidance differ on lettuce

United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting

Keep lettuce cooked soft before 12 months: the AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year. For toddlers, the AAP advises holding back or changing raw vegetables until about 4 years, depending on the child, and the CDC says washed and then cooked vegetables are safest for children under 5. If you follow US advice, keep serving lettuce cooked, or shred it very finely with the ribs cut out.

United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting

The NHS lists soft cooked vegetables as finger foods for babies. From 12 months, its snack list includes cooked or raw vegetables. It doesn't name salad leaves, so if you offer raw lettuce, wash it well, cut out the ribs, shred it very finely, and stay with your child.

We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.

Questions parents ask

Can lettuce be a choking hazard for babies?

Raw lettuce can be hard for young babies to manage, and the AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year. For babies, cook lettuce until soft, then blend or chop it finely. For toddlers, shred raw lettuce finely, cut out crunchy ribs, and never serve whole leaves. Stay with your child during meals.

Can babies be allergic to lettuce?

Lettuce is not a common allergen. As with any new food, offer a small amount and watch for signs of a reaction.

Is lettuce healthy for babies?

Mostly water (about 95%). Romaine has more vitamins than iceberg: 100 g of raw romaine has about 436 µg of vitamin A and 102 µg of vitamin K, compared with about 25 µg and 24 µg in iceberg. Lettuce is not a meaningful source of iron.

Can babies eat raw lettuce?

Not before 12 months. The AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1 year and says most vegetables should be cooked until soft. From 12 months, if you offer raw lettuce, shred it very finely and cut out the crunchy ribs. US and UK advice differs on raw vegetables for toddlers: see the US vs. UK note below.

Which lettuce is best for babies?

Any type, washed well and prepared safely. Romaine and green leaf lettuce have more vitamin A and vitamin K than iceberg.

Do I need to wash bagged salad?

If the bag says pre-washed or ready-to-eat, the FDA says you can use it without washing again. Keep bagged salad in the fridge. Whole heads of lettuce always need rinsing under running water.

If your baby refuses lettuce

Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
Try it cooked into a soup or mashed potato, where the taste is mild.
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 lettuce

Keep lettuce and bagged salad in the fridge, at 40°F (4°C) or below.
Cooked lettuce and dishes made with it 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.
Reheat cooked dishes 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.

Offered lettuce?

Add it to your first 100 foods.

Helpful guides

Sources

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