No. 60 · Protein Passport food
When can babies eat chickpeas?
Can babies have chickpeas?
Babies can have chickpeas from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids. Whole chickpeas are round and firm, so they are a choking hazard: mash, smash or blend them into hummus for babies, and flatten each one for older babies. Chickpeas are a great plant source of protein and iron.
How to serve chickpeas by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Cook chickpeas until very soft, then blend them with water or a little olive oil into a smooth, thin hummus with no skins or lumps. Offer it on a spoon or pre-loaded spoon, or stir it into mashed sweet potato or avocado.
7–8 months
Mash soft-cooked chickpeas with a fork for a lumpier texture, or spread a thin layer of hummus on a toast strip your baby can hold. You can also mash chickpeas with sweet potato or avocado and form soft patties that squash easily.
9–12 months
Press each soft-cooked chickpea flat between your fingers before serving so it is no longer round, then let baby pick them up with a pincer grasp. Removing the thin skins makes them even easier to manage.
12 months +
Keep flattening or halving whole chickpeas for young toddlers, and serve them in curries, stews, salads and pasta. Crunchy roasted chickpeas are hard and round, so wait until at least age 4, like other hard snacks such as nuts and popcorn.
Why it’s good
Chickpeas give babies plant protein, iron, zinc, folate and fiber, which support growth and brain development. Iron is especially important from 6 months, and serving chickpeas with vitamin C foods like tomato, bell pepper or kiwi helps baby absorb it. The fiber in chickpeas also helps keep stools soft.
Safety notes
- Never serve whole, round chickpeas to babies. Mash, blend or flatten each one so it cannot block the airway.
- Cook dried chickpeas until they squash easily between your thumb and finger. Raw or undercooked chickpeas are hard to digest and are a choking risk.
- Canned chickpeas can be high in sodium. Choose no-salt-added cans, or drain and rinse them well, which removes a good part of the salt.
- Roasted chickpea snacks are hard and crunchy and should wait until at least age 4.
- Store-bought hummus is often salty. Look for low-sodium hummus or make your own without added salt.
A low-allergy food, still worth watching
Chickpeas are not one of the Top 9 allergens, but chickpea allergy does occur, and some children with a peanut, lentil or pea allergy also react to chickpeas. Offer a small amount the first time and watch for hives, vomiting or swelling; if your baby has a legume allergy, check with your allergist first.
Chickpeas for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about chickpeas for babies and toddlers.
When can babies eat chickpeas?
Babies can have chickpeas from about 6 months, when they are ready for solids. Chickpeas should be cooked very soft and mashed, blended into hummus or flattened, because whole chickpeas are a choking hazard.
Can babies have chickpeas?
Yes, babies can eat chickpeas from 6 months when they are prepared safely. Chickpeas are an affordable plant food with protein, iron and fiber.
Are chickpeas a choking hazard for babies?
Yes, whole chickpeas are a choking hazard for babies and young toddlers because they are round, firm and the right size to block the airway. Mash, blend or smash chickpeas flat for babies, and keep flattening or halving them for toddlers.
Are chickpeas a common allergen?
No, chickpeas are not one of the Top 9 common allergens in the United States. Chickpea allergy is more common in some other countries, and children with a peanut, lentil or pea allergy may also react, so watch closely the first few times.
How do I serve chickpeas to a 6 month old?
To serve chickpeas to a 6 month old, cook or rinse them, then blend or mash them until completely smooth and mix them into mashed vegetables. Smooth, thinned hummus on a spoon or pre-loaded spoon is another easy way to serve chickpeas to a 6 month old. Toast strips with hummus and soft chickpea patties can follow at 7–8 months.
Are canned chickpeas OK for babies?
Canned chickpeas are OK for babies and are already soft and cooked. Choose no-salt-added cans when possible, and drain and rinse canned chickpeas to lower the sodium.
Do I need to soak dried chickpeas?
Soaking dried chickpeas overnight is recommended because it shortens cooking time and helps them cook evenly until soft. Dried chickpeas must always be fully cooked, never served raw or undercooked, which also breaks down natural compounds like lectins.
Should I remove chickpea skins for my baby?
Removing chickpea skins is optional but can make chickpeas smoother and easier for babies to eat. The thin skins are safe, but some babies gag on them, so peeling them or blending them smooth helps new eaters.
Do chickpeas cause gas in babies?
Chickpeas can cause some gas because they are rich in fiber, which is normal as a baby's gut adjusts. Starting with small amounts, soaking and fully cooking dried chickpeas, and rinsing canned ones can help.
Are chickpeas good for babies?
Yes, chickpeas are good for babies from about 6 months, giving plant protein, iron, zinc, folate and fiber. Because whole chickpeas are round and firm, serve them blended into smooth hummus or mashed at first, and flatten each one for older babies. Pair them with vitamin C foods like tomato or bell pepper.
What can I mix with chickpeas for babies?
Mashed or blended chickpeas pair well with mashed sweet potato, avocado, roasted carrot or butternut squash, and a little olive oil from 6 months. A squeeze of lemon adds flavor and vitamin C to help absorb iron. Skip added salt, and use no-salt-added canned chickpeas or rinse them well.
The takeaway
- Babies can have chickpeas from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids.
- Cook chickpeas until very soft, then blend them with water or a little olive oil into a smooth, thin hummus with no skins or lumps.
- 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)
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Iron Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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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.