When can babies eat butternut squash?
Butternut squash may be introduced as soon as your baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age.
Background and origins of butternut squash
Squash originated in Central America, where the plant has been grown by Indigenous people for thousands of years, but it was not until the 20th century that the modern-day butternut variety was developed. A descendant of the curvy Canadian crookneck and a cousin of calabaza, today’s butternut squash has been cultivated to withstand colder climes outside of the tropical and subtropical regions in which the native plant thrives. Butternut squash has a smooth, tender texture with little to no strings and a sweet, nutty flavor—a wonderful first food for babies. Check out nutrition information and serving suggestions!
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Is butternut squash healthy for babies?
Yes. Butternut squash is an excellent source of fiber and offers plenty of vitamin A for eyesight, B vitamins for healthy blood, vitamin C for resilient skin, and vitamin E for brain development. Squash seeds contain even more vitamin E than the flesh!
While all of these vitamins support your baby’s immune system, vitamin C has a special superpower: it helps your baby absorb iron from plant-based foods that are packed with the essential nutrient. That means serving butternut squash with iron-rich foods like beans, lentils, nuts, and seeds can pack an extra nutritional punch.
What’s more, butternut squash is high in carotenoids— a fancy word for plant compounds, some of which our bodies convert to vitamin A. In fact, the longer that butternut squash is allowed to cure after harvest, the more carotenoids it produces. Studies indicate that carotenoids may reduce the risk of cancer and help regulate free radicals that our bodies naturally produce.
Is butternut squash a common choking hazard for babies?
No. Butternut squash is not a common choking hazard, but its seeds can be. As always, be sure to create a safe eating environment and always stay near your baby during mealtime as in theory, an individual can choke on any food. Check out our age-appropriate serving suggestions!
For more information, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with common choking hazards.
Is butternut squash a common allergen?
No. Allergies to butternut squash are rare, though it’s not uncommon to get an itchy rash on the hands after handling winter squashes. To minimize any reaction, wash your hands after preparing the squash. Also, apply a barrier ointment (such as pure white petroleum jelly) to baby’s face before eating, and wash face and hands after eating.
As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity on its own for the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals.
How do you prepare butternut squash for babies with baby-led weaning?
Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience. Your child is an individual and may have needs or considerations beyond generally accepted practices. In determining the recommendations for size and shape of foods, we use the best available scientific information regarding gross, fine, and oral motor development to minimize choking risk. The preparation suggestions we offer are for informational purposes only and are not a substitute for child-specific, one-on-one advice from your pediatric medical or health professional or provider. It is impossible to fully eliminate all risk of a baby or child choking on any liquid, puree, or food. We advise you to follow all safety protocols we suggest to create a safe eating environment and to make educated choices for your child regarding their specific needs. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen here.
6 to 9 months old:
Let your baby munch on well-cooked crescent-shaped or half-moon pieces or offer mashed butternut squash to eat with their hands or from a pre-loaded spoon. If a too-big piece of food from the crescent-shaped pieces breaks off while eating, stay calm and give your child a chance to work the food forward independently.
9 to 12 months old:
Serve bite-size pieces of well-cooked butternut squash if your baby has developed their pincer grasp and consider continuing to offer large pieces of well-cooked butternut squash for biting and tearing practice. Mashed butternut squash is a great food for spoon practice at this age as well because it grips the spoon, increasing baby’s chances for scooping success and allowing baby plenty of time to get the loaded spoon to their mouth before all the food falls off the utensil!
12 to 24 months old:
Offer bite-sized pieces of well-cooked butternut squash along with a fork to encourage utensil practice. Help show how it is used by pre-loading the fork for your baby to pick up independently. If your child is not interested in using their fork or spoon, keep in mind that using utensils can be exhausting for new eaters, and many toddlers toggle back and forth between feeding themselves with their fingers and practicing with utensils. Try not to apply too much pressure—consistent and accurate utensil use will come in due time, and probably between 18 and 24 months of age.
How to cut a butternut squash without losing a finger: Place the squash on its side and slice crosswise to separate the bulb from the neck. Now cut off the flower and stem ends to create a flat surface that lets each piece sit upright on your cutting board without rolling. Next, use a sharp vegetable peeler to remove the skin. Cut the bulb in half and scoop out the seeds. Decide what shapes you want to create—chunks, crescent moons, large cubes—and cut accordingly. Now you’re ready to cook!
For more information on how to cut food for babies, visit our page on Food Sizes & Shapes.
Butternut Squash Hummus
Yield
5 c (1 ¼ liter)
Cooking time
5 minutes
Age suggestion
6 months +
Ingredients
2 15-oz (425-g) cans chickpeas
1 15-oz (425-g) can butternut squash puree
2 tbsp (30 ml) lemon juice
2 tbsp (30 ml) olive oil
1 tsp (2 g) garlic powder
1 tsp (2 g) ground cumin
1 tsp (3 g) kosher salt (optional: 12 months+)
3 whole green beans (optional)
Modifications
Salt - If you are sharing with babies under 12 months of age, omit or reduce the quantity to minimize sodium in the child’s diet. Before serving, season your portion of hummus with salt to taste.
Directions
Rinse the chickpeas to reduce the excess sodium.
Place the chickpeas, squash puree, lemon juice, olive oil, spices, and salt in a food processor.
Blend the ingredients until the hummus is mostly smooth. Scrape down the sides of the bowl a few times to make sure all beans get blended. A little texture is okay as long as there are no whole chickpeas. If you do not have a blender, mash the beans until they are mostly broken down, then mix in the squash puree, lemon juice, and oil.
Set aside some hummus for baby, then season some with salt to taste for yourself. Store the rest for future meals.
Serve the Hummus
Offer hummus and whole green beans to baby, then let the child self-feed.
If help is needed, swipe a green bean or baby spoon in the hummus, then hold it in the air in front of baby and let the child reach for it. Once baby has grabbed it, let go.
Eat some hummus alongside baby to model how it’s done.
To Store: Butternut Squash Hummus keeps in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 3 days or in the freezer for 2 months. When freezing, store the hummus in ½ c (120 ml) airtight containers. This way, the hummus defrosts faster when it is time to eat.
Pairings
Butternut squash is nutty and sweet. Try serving it with umami-rich foods like mushroom, pork, or scallop. Play up its earthiness by adding nuts like almond, chestnut, or hazelnut, or balance its sweetness with seasoning from bold herbs and spices like chili powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, rosemary, or sage—or add brightness from the juice of lime, orange, or your favorite citrus fruit.
By
Dr. Rachel Ruiz
Pediatrician & pediatric gastroenterologist
Dr. Sakina Shikari Bajowala
Pediatrician & pediatric allergist/immunologist
Kary Rappaport
Pediatric occupational therapist, feeding & swallowing specialist, international board-certified lactation consultant
K. Tatiana Maldonado
Speech-language pathologist, feeding & swallowing specialist
Venus Kalami
Pediatric registered dietitian & nutritionist
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