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Learn moreCarrot
Vegetable
Age Suggestion
6 months
Iron-Rich
No
Common Allergen
No
Warning
Raw carrot is a common choking hazard, especially in the form of baby carrots and carrot sticks. Keep reading to learn more about safely introducing carrot to babies.
When can babies have carrots?
Carrots may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age.
Carrots are often orange and sweet, but they weren’t always that way. The root vegetable originated in Southwest Asia, where humans first harvested the carrot’s aromatic foliage and seeds as food and medicine. Eventually, people learned to eat the plant’s root as well, which was not orange, but yellow or purple, spindly in shape, and more bitter than the modern carrot.
How do you serve carrots to babies?
Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience.
6 months old +:
Offer a large piece of cooked, soft carrot around the size of two adult fingers pressed together. If you’d like to reduce choking risk even further, you can cut the carrot in half lengthwise so that the food is no longer rounded. Or, mash the cooked carrot and offer in a bowl for baby to scoop or on a pre-loaded spoon.
You may, at your own risk, offer a thick raw carrot stick (aim for around 1 inch or 2 cm in diameter at both ends of the carrot stick, avoiding the tapered end that could more easily snap off), peeled for baby to gnaw, an activity that won’t lead to any food in the belly at that meal, but has lots of benefits for strengthening the jaw, helping the tongue learn to move food to the side of the mouth, and providing sensory feedback for baby to “map” the inside of the mouth. While unlikely, for babies with teeth and a strong jaw, it is possible to bite off a piece of carrot. If this happens, give baby a moment to spit it out, keeping your fingers out of baby’s mouth. You can help by squatting down in front of baby, encouraging them to look down at you and allowing gravity to help the piece of food fall toward the front of the mouth for baby to more easily spit out. Those moments can feel scary, but they are valuable teaching moments for baby to learn what isn’t safe to swallow and to practice spitting out foods.
9 months old +:
At this age, babies develop a pincer grasp (where the thumb and first finger meet), which enables them to pick up smaller pieces of food. When you see signs of this development happening, try moving down in size by offering soft, mashable cooked carrots cut into bite-sized pieces. You can also offer grated raw carrot, on its own or as part of salads and grain dishes, or continue to offer long pieces of soft, cooked carrot for baby to practice taking bites.
18 months old +:
Offer whole carrots that have been cooked and cut into bite-sized pieces, or if you like, larger pieces as a finger food. Many toddlers are ready to handle raw carrots closer to age 2. If you feel comfortable with the child’s eating skills, you can offer raw carrot that has been cut into sticks by quartering raw carrot lengthwise. Raw carrots are a choking hazard, so make sure you are creating a safe eating environment by minimizing distractions, making sure the child is in a supported seat, and staying near the child at mealtime.
24 months old +:
Continue to offer cooked carrots as desired and raw carrots cut into sticks. If you have not yet offered raw carrots cut into thin sticks, you may want to begin there before progressing to whole baby carrots or thicker carrot sticks. When a child is regularly showing mature chewing skills (taking small bites, moving food to the side of the mouth to be chewed and chewing thoroughly, and not stuffing too much food in their mouth), they may be ready to practice eating whole, raw, baby carrots in a safe, supervised setting. Raw baby carrots pose a high choking risk because of their shape and firm texture, so offer them when a child is seated, engaged in eating, and when you can supervise mealtime closely.
We suggest demonstrating chewing with the molars prior to offering the whole, raw, baby carrot: open your mouth, place the vegetable on your back teeth and explain, “I am using my strong back teeth to crush this carrot, and I have to chew it A LOT.” You may want to consider holding the baby carrot for your child to practice biting—hold at the corner of their mouth and allow your child to close their teeth on the food. Coach your child to push hard to break through the baby carrot. You can make a big deal about the loud crunch sounds that happens when they chew through it.
If the toddler does not attempt to bite and chew with coaching, you can continue to serve thin, raw carrot sticks to help build chewing skill.
How to serve cooked carrots to babies 6 months +
How to offer raw carrot as a food teether to babies 6-8 months old
Videos
Are carrots a choking hazard for babies?
Yes. Raw carrots are firm, dense, and very challenging to chew, qualities that increase the risk of choking, particularly in the form of baby carrots and carrot sticks. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve carrots in an age-appropriate way as described in How to Serve. As always, create a safe eating environment and stay within reach of baby during meals.
Learn the signs of choking and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.
Are carrots a common allergen?
No. Allergies to carrot are rare, but they have been reported. People who are allergic to birch pollen may be allergic to raw carrots or experience Oral Allergy Syndrome (also known as pollen food allergy syndrome). Oral Allergy Syndrome typically results in short-lived itching, tingling, or burning in the mouth and is unlikely to result in a dangerous reaction. Cooking the carrot can minimize the reaction.
Are carrots healthy for babies?
Yes. Carrots of all colors offer carbohydrates, fluid, fiber, folate, magnesium, potassium, as well as vitamins A, B6, and K. Together, these nutrients support baby’s energy for play and exploration, hydration, digestive health, brain development, electrolyte balance, vision, and more. Carrots also offer antioxidants and carotenoids like lutein and zeaxanthin that support bodily repair and vision.
When can babies and toddlers have raw baby carrots?
It depends, but it is generally safest to wait until closer to age two. Raw baby carrots pose a high choking risk because of their shape and firm texture. Like regular carrots, cooking baby carrots until soft minimizes the risk for babies and young toddlers. To reduce the risk further, slice lengthwise in halves or quarters. Never offer whole raw baby carrots to a baby and only offer raw baby carrots to toddlers when you are confident in the toddler’s chewing abilities, likely around age two, or when the child has had practice breaking down food with their molars.
Do I need to worry about the nitrates in carrots?
No. Feel free to offer vegetables that contain nitrates (arugula, beets, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and squash to name a few) as part of a variety of foods in the diet. Nitrates are naturally-occurring compounds which, if consumed in excess, may negatively affect oxygen levels in the blood. That said, babies who are allowed to self-feed typically do not consume excessive amounts of solid food because they need lots of practice to learn how to eat it. Nitrates in vegetables are generally not a cause for concern, and the benefits of introducing vegetables with nitrates as part of a balanced diet typically outweigh the unlikely risk of excessive consumption.
To reduce nitrate exposure, avoid consumption of untested well water and take care with purees. When possible, avoid homemade purees made with higher nitrate vegetables that are stored for more than 24 hours and commercial purees not consumed within 24 hours of opening. Higher nitrate vegetables include arugula, beets, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and squash, among others.
Our Team
Written by
Dr. Rachel Ruiz
MD, FAAP, CLC
Dr. Sakina Bajowala
MD, FAAAAI
Kim Grenawitzke
OTD, OTR/L, SCFES, IBCLC, CNT
Venus Kalami
MNSP, RD, CSP
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