When can babies eat mint?

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

Mint

A fresh lift for peas, beans and yogurt, finely chopped and mixed in.

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

Quick answer

Babies can eat mint 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 mint by age

6 months+

Finely chopped and cooked or blended into food

Rinse the leaves, pick them off the stems, and chop them finely. Simmer them with peas or beans for a few minutes, then mash or blend until smooth. Don't give whole leaves.

Size: Leaves finely chopped or blended, then mixed into soft foods, such as mashed peas, beans or lentils.
Check before serving: Look through your baby's portion. There should be no whole leaves or large pieces of leaf.

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 mint

1
Rinse the leaves under running water and pat them dry with a clean towel.
2
Pick the leaves off the stems, and throw away any slimy or damaged ones.
3
Chop the leaves finely. For babies under 1, simmer them into the dish or blend them in. Don't add salt.
4
Let the food cool before serving.

How much to offer

Start with a small amount of finely chopped mint in a food your baby already knows, as you would in a family dish. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Mint is a flavor, so there's no amount to aim for.

Common mistakes

Serving whole leaves

The AAP says foods for babies should be soft or puréed to prevent choking, and lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1. Chop mint finely and cook or blend it into food.

Using peppermint oil or mint tea

The NCCIH says menthol, found in peppermint oil, should not be inhaled by or put on the face of babies or small children, because it may affect their breathing. Don't give mint tea either: the NHS says herbal drinks aren't recommended for babies.

Using mint sauce or mint jelly

Jarred mint sauces and jellies can contain added sugar and salt. Check the label: the NHS says to avoid sugar up to age 4 and not to add salt for babies. Fresh chopped mint is simpler.

Skipping the rinse

Rinse fresh herbs under running water, as the FDA advises for all fresh produce. There's no need for soap or produce wash.

Where US and UK guidance differ on mint

United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting

The AAP says fresh baby food should be cooked with no added salt or seasoning. It doesn't mention mint or other herbs, and no AAP page gives an age for them. If you'd rather follow that line closely, leave mint out until 12 months, or ask your pediatrician.

United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting

The NHS says not to add salt or sugar, including stock cubes and gravy, to your baby's food or cooking water. Its weaning recipes for babies from 6 months use fresh mint, simmered into a butter bean dip or mixed uncooked into a beetroot dip, and its general salt advice suggests herbs and spices to add flavor instead of salt. If you use mint, keep it finely chopped and unsalted.

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

Questions parents ask

Can mint be a choking hazard for babies?

Whole mint leaves can be hard for young babies to manage, and the AAP lists raw vegetables among foods to avoid under 1. Chop mint finely and cook or blend it into food, and don't give whole leaves. Stay with your child during meals.

Can babies be allergic to mint?

Mint is not a common allergen. The NCCIH says peppermint oil can rarely cause allergic reactions. As with any new food, offer a small amount and watch for signs of a reaction.

Is mint healthy for babies?

Fresh mint is used a few leaves at a time (2 leaves weigh about 0.3 g), so it adds flavor rather than nutrients. It is not a source of iron to count on.

Can babies have mint?

Yes, from around 6 months, finely chopped and mixed into food. The NHS uses fresh mint in two recipes for babies from 6 months: a butter bean dip, where the mint is simmered and blended, and a beetroot dip. US and UK advice is worded differently: see the guidance note below.

Is peppermint oil safe for babies?

Don't use it on or near your baby. The NCCIH says menthol, found in peppermint oil, should not be inhaled by or applied to the face of an infant or small child, because it may affect their breathing. If you use peppermint oil on your nipples while breastfeeding, the NCCIH says to use it only after a feed and wipe it off before the next one.

Can I give my baby mint tea for colic?

No. Breast milk or formula is the only drink babies need in the first 6 months, and the NHS says herbal drinks usually contain sugars and are not recommended, and tea isn't suitable for babies. If you're worried about colic, talk to your pediatrician or health visitor.

If your baby refuses mint

Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
Use less mint, cooked into the dish so the flavor is milder, and mix it into a food your baby already enjoys, such as mashed peas.
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 mint

Keep fresh mint loosely wrapped in the fridge, at 40°F (4°C) or below, and use it within a few days.
Cooked dishes and dips with mint keep for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge. 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 mint?

Add it to your first 100 foods.