No. 02 · Veggies Passport food
When can babies eat carrots?
Can babies have carrots?
Babies can have carrots from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids, but only cooked until very soft or grated finely. Raw carrot sticks and coins are one of the most common choking hazards for babies and toddlers, so how you prepare carrots matters more than when you start.
How to serve carrots by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Steam or boil carrots until very soft, then blend or mash them until smooth, thinning with a little cooking water, breast milk or formula. Offer the puree on a spoon or a pre-loaded spoon, on its own or mixed with other smooth foods.
7–8 months
Fork-mash soft-cooked carrot so it has small lumps, or stir very finely grated raw carrot into thicker oatmeal or lentils. Your baby can also hold steamed or roasted carrot wedges about the length of an adult finger, cooked until a fork slides in with no resistance and they squash easily between your thumb and finger.
9–12 months
Cut very soft cooked carrot into small pieces about the size of a chickpea for pincer-grasp practice, or keep offering soft wedges. Stir grated carrot into muffins, pancakes, lentils or meatballs. Never serve raw carrot sticks, coins or baby carrots at this age.
12 months +
Keep serving carrot cooked until soft, in bite-size pieces, ribbons or added to soups and stews. Finely grated raw carrot in salads and wraps is fine, but raw sticks, coins and baby carrots stay a choking hazard until at least age 4, and only then with supervision and good chewing skills.
Why it’s good
Carrots are packed with beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A for healthy eyes, skin and immune function. They also offer fiber, potassium and vitamin K, and their natural sweetness makes them an easy way to introduce vegetables. Adding a little fat, like olive oil or butter, helps baby absorb the vitamin A.
Safety notes
- Raw carrot, including sticks, rounds and baby carrots, is firm and slippery and is a leading choking hazard for children under 4. Cook it until it squashes easily or grate it very finely.
- Do the squish test every time: a cooked carrot piece should flatten between your thumb and finger with light pressure.
- Avoid cutting carrot into round coins, which are the right size and shape to block a small airway, even when cooked. Cut lengthwise into wedges or spears instead.
- Homemade carrot puree is fine to make, but serve it fresh and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days. Do not give carrot juice to babies under 12 months.
- Always seat baby upright in a high chair and stay within arm's reach during meals.
A low-allergy food, still worth watching
Carrots are not a common food allergen, and allergic reactions are rare. Some older children and adults with pollen allergies notice an itchy mouth from raw carrot (oral allergy syndrome), which is usually milder with cooked carrot.
Carrots for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about carrots for babies and toddlers.
When can babies eat carrots?
Babies can have carrots from about 6 months of age, once they show signs of readiness for solids like sitting with support and bringing food to their mouth. Carrots must be cooked until very soft or grated finely for babies.
Can babies have carrots?
Yes, babies can eat carrots from around 6 months as long as the carrots are cooked until soft. Smooth mashed carrot works well on a spoon at first, and soft steamed or roasted wedges work well for little hands from 7–8 months.
Is carrot a choking hazard for babies?
Raw carrot is a high choking risk for babies and toddlers because it is hard, slippery and breaks into firm chunks. Cooked carrot that squashes easily between your fingers is much safer, and cutting it lengthwise rather than into rounds lowers the risk further.
Is carrot a common allergen?
Carrot is not a common allergen and is not one of the Top 9 food allergens. Reactions are rare, but as with any new food, watch for hives, vomiting or swelling the first few times.
How do I serve carrots to a 6 month old?
To serve carrots to a 6 month old, steam or boil them until very soft, then blend or mash them smooth and offer them on a spoon or pre-loaded spoon. Soft finger-length wedges that squash easily between your fingers can follow at 7–8 months.
When can kids eat raw carrots and baby carrots?
Raw carrot sticks and baby carrots are best kept off the menu until at least age 4, and then only with supervision once a child chews well. Before then, finely grated raw carrot is the safe way to serve it uncooked.
Do I need to worry about nitrates in carrots?
Nitrates in carrots are not a concern for babies over 6 months eating normal amounts of home-cooked or store-bought carrots. Nitrate worries apply mainly to young infants under 3 months and to homemade vegetable purees stored too long, so serve purees fresh and refrigerate leftovers promptly.
Can carrots turn my baby's skin orange?
Carrots can turn a baby's skin slightly orange, especially on the nose, palms and soles, if they eat a lot of beta-carotene rich foods. This is called carotenemia and is harmless. It fades over a few weeks when you offer a wider mix of foods; ask your pediatrician if the whites of the eyes look yellow, since that is not caused by carrots.
Are frozen or canned carrots okay for babies?
Frozen carrots are a great option for babies because they are picked and frozen at peak nutrition; just cook them until very soft. Canned carrots are soft but often salted, so choose no-salt-added versions or rinse them well.
Can carrots help with constipation in babies?
Carrots add fiber to a baby's diet, but cooked carrots on their own are not a reliable fix for constipation. Pair them with higher-fiber foods like pears, prunes or oats, offer small sips of water with meals from 6 months, and talk to your pediatrician if constipation lasts.
Are carrots good for babies?
Yes, carrots are a good first food for babies from about 6 months, as long as they are cooked until very soft or grated finely. Carrots are rich in beta-carotene for vitamin A, plus fiber and potassium; raw carrot sticks, coins and baby carrots stay a choking hazard until at least age 4.
The takeaway
- Babies can have carrots from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids, but only cooked until very soft or grated finely.
- Steam or boil carrots until very soft, then blend or mash them until smooth, thinning with a little cooking water, breast milk or formula.
- Choking risk is high. Not a Top 9 allergen, but offer a small amount first and watch for any reaction.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Prevention American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- Infant Methemoglobinemia: The Role of Dietary Nitrate in Food and Water Greer FR, Shannon M; American Academy of Pediatrics. Pediatrics. 2005;116(3):784-786
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Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.