When can babies eat onion?

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

Onion

Cooked low and slow, onion turns sweet and soft. Flavor without the salt shaker.

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

Quick answer

Babies can eat onion 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 onion by age

6 months+

Soft-cooked onion mashed into food

Cook chopped onion gently until very soft and see-through, then mash or blend it into foods your baby is already eating. No salt or stock cubes in the pan.

Size: Mashed or blended into soft foods, such as lentils, potato or pasta sauce.
Check before serving: Squash a piece of the cooked onion between your thumb and finger. It should fall apart with no crunch.

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 onion

1
Rinse the onion under running water, then peel off the papery skin and the first tough layer.
2
Chop it finely, or cut it into thin wedges if you'll mash it after cooking.
3
Cook it gently in a little oil or water for about 10 to 15 minutes, stirring, until it's very soft and see-through. Don't add salt or stock cubes.
4
Do the squash test, then mash it or mix it into your baby's food and let it cool before serving.

How much to offer

Start with a spoonful of cooked onion mixed into a food your baby already knows. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Onion is mostly a flavor, so there's no amount to aim for.

Common mistakes

Using onion salt or seasoning mixes

Onion salt and many seasoning blends contain salt. Babies shouldn't have added salt. Use fresh cooked onion instead, or check the label.

Serving it crunchy

Lightly fried onion can stay firm. Cook it until it's soft and see-through all the way through.

Leaving long slippery strips

Long layers of cooked onion can be hard for a baby to manage. Chop it finely or mash it.

Seasoning the family pot first

Take your baby's portion out before adding salt, stock cubes or gravy to the family meal.

Questions parents ask

Can onion be a choking hazard for babies?

Raw onion is firm and crunchy, and hard raw vegetables are a choking hazard for young children. Serve onion cooked until very soft, then mashed or finely chopped into food. Avoid crisp fried onions and onion rings. Stay with your child during meals.

Can babies be allergic to onion?

Onion is not a common allergen.

Is onion healthy for babies?

Cooked onion adds flavor more than nutrients: it has small amounts of vitamin C, potassium and fiber. It is not a major source of iron.

Can babies eat onion?

Yes, from around 6 months, cooked until very soft and mashed or finely chopped into other foods. It's a good way to add flavor to your baby's food without salt.

Can babies have onion powder?

Fresh cooked onion is the simplest choice. If you use onion powder, check the label: onion salt and many seasoning mixes contain salt, and babies shouldn't have salt added to their food.

Can babies eat raw onion?

Keep onion cooked for babies and young toddlers. Raw onion is crunchy and hard to chew, and the AAP advises cooking most vegetables until soft for babies.

If your baby refuses onion

Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
Mix a little soft-cooked onion into a food your baby already enjoys, such as lentils or mashed potato.
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 onion

Store whole onions somewhere cool and dry. Once cut, wrap the rest and keep it in the fridge.
Cooked onion 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 onion, or dishes made with it, can be frozen for 3 to 4 months. Reheat only once, to 165°F (74°C), until steaming hot, then let it 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 onion?

Add it to your first 100 foods.