Split peas
Simmer them low and slow and they melt into a soft, thick mash.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Babies can eat split peas from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.
How to serve split peas by age
6 months+
Thick, smooth mash
Cook split peas until they fall apart into a thick, scoopable mash, like a soft dal or pease pudding, and load it onto a spoon your baby can hold. Or mix the mash with mashed 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 split pea 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 pieces of pea 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.
9 months+
Thicker mash or soft clumps
Offer a thicker, slightly lumpy mash, or small pieces of split pea patty, for practice with lumpier textures. Stirring the mash into rice or mashed vegetables makes it easier to pick up.
- Size
- Pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch). Cooked split peas are smaller than this and break down into mash.
- Check before serving
- Any pieces should squash flat between your thumb and finger with gentle pressure.
12 months+
Soup, dal or patties
Serve split peas in family meals: a thick split pea soup, a mild yellow split pea dal with rice, or patties. Take your child's portion out before adding salt, ham or stock cubes.
- Size
- Soft mash, or pieces of patty about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Still check that the peas have broken down and aren't firm in the middle.
18 months+
Split pea dishes the family eats
Offer split peas the way your family eats them: soups, dal, stews or patties. Thick soup is good spoon practice, and patties work well as finger food.
- Size
- Bite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), or split peas in a soft dish.
- Check before serving
- Split peas should be soft all the way through, not chalky or firm.
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 split peas
- 1
Tip dried split peas into a sieve, pick out any small stones, and rinse them under running water.
- 2
Simmer them in plenty of fresh water, without salt, until they're very soft and falling apart. Stir now and then and add more water if they start to stick.
- 3
Mash or blend to the texture your baby is ready for, and let it 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 split pea 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
Stopping before they're soft
Undercooked split peas stay firm and grainy. Keep simmering until they fall apart and smear easily between your fingers.
Using ham, bacon or stock in your baby's portion
Split pea soup is often made with ham, bacon or stock cubes, which are salty. Babies shouldn't have added salt. Cook your baby's portion in plain water, or take it out before adding them.
Serving split peas on their own every time
Pair them with a food rich in vitamin C, like tomato, red pepper or broccoli, 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 split peas be a choking hazard for babies?
Well-cooked split peas break down into a soft mash, so they are a low choking risk. Cook them until they fall apart and smear easily between your fingers, and serve them as a mash or soft patties for young babies. Stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to split peas?
Split peas 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 split peas are eaten without a reaction, keep offering them as part of usual meals.
Are split peas healthy for babies?
Cooked split peas have about 8 g of protein and 8 g of fiber per 100 g. They also have about 1.3 mg of iron per 100 g, a small part of the 11 mg a day babies 7–12 months need, and it's the plant (nonheme) kind, which the body absorbs less well than iron from meat.
Can babies eat split pea soup?
Yes, if it's homemade without salt, ham or stock cubes, and thick enough to stay on a spoon. Take your baby's portion out before you season the rest for the family.
Are green or yellow split peas better for babies?
Either works. Both cook down into a soft mash. Yellow split peas are often used for dal and green ones for soup.
Can split peas cause gas?
They can. Legumes, including beans, peas and lentils, 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 nothing to worry about.
Can split peas help with constipation?
Split peas contain fiber, and the NIH lists legumes such as beans and 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.
If your baby refuses split peas
- 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, split pea fingers, or stirred into rice or 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 split peas
- Keep dried split peas in a sealed container in a cool, dry cupboard.
- Cooked split peas and split pea soup keep for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge. The mash thickens as it cools: stir in a little water when you reheat it. 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 split peas can be frozen for 3 to 4 months, and split pea soup for 2 to 3 months. Reheat only once, to 165°F (74°C), until steaming hot (bring soup to a rolling boil), 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:
- 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 split peas 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.
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Helpful guides
Sources
- USDA FoodData Central: Peas, split, mature seeds, cooked, boiled, without salt
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Iron
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
- CDC: Choking hazards
- NIDDK: Eating, diet and nutrition for gas in the digestive tract
- NIDDK: Eating, diet and nutrition for constipation in children
- Food Standards Agency: Home food fact checker
- USDA FSIS: Freezing and food safety
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
- NHS Best Start in Life: Storing and reheating food
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