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Celery

Food Type

Vegetable

Common Allergen

No

Age Suggestion

6 months

Yes

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Celery

When can babies eat celery?

Celery may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Raw celery poses a choking risk, so read our serving suggestions carefully when introducing this vegetable to babies.

Warning

Raw celery is a common choking hazard, so keep reading to learn more about safely introducing it to babies.

Where does celery come from?

Celery comes from wild greens that originated in the fertile lands around the Mediterranean Sea. Humans learned to cultivate the vegetable thousands of years ago, which led to a variety of cultivars, including celeriac (a variety specifically grown for its bulbous, edible stem), leaf celery (common throughout Asia), and celery stalks that are widely available in the Americas. Celery’s popularity and the rise of food processing in the 19th century United States led to an explosion of celery-based products. While celery soda is no longer the hot new thing, celery is still commonly pressed into juice, as well as cooked into sauces, soups, and stews like gumbo and khoreshte karafs.

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Videos

Alex, 6 months, uses a raw celery stick as a food teether with a yogurt dip.

Mila, 10 months, eats cooked slivers of celery.

Juliet Rose, 15 months, eats raw slivers of celery.

Is celery healthy for babies?

Yes. Celery offers lots of vitamin K for healthy blood, some folate for baby’s development and growth, and plenty of carotenoids, many of which convert to vitamin A for skin, eye, and immune health. Plus, it contains antioxidant and anti-inflammatory compounds that benefit the gut and immune system.

Worried about the sodium in celery? There’s no need to be. While celery is higher in sodium than many other vegetables, it is not a high-sodium food.

Is celery a common choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Raw celery’s firm texture carries an increased risk of choking. To reduce the risk, slice the stalks crosswise into thin half-moons and cook until soft. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals. For more information on choking, visit our sections on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards.

Is celery a common allergen?

No. Allergies to celery are uncommon, but are reported to be increasing in prevalence, with reactions ranging from mild to severe. Individuals with Oral Allergy Syndrome (also known as pollen food allergy syndrome), particularly those who are allergic to birch and mugwort pollen and/or are sensitive to other foods within the Apiaceae family, such as carrot and fennel, may also be sensitive to celery. Other spices that cross-react with celery include coriander, caraway seed, celery, chervil, cumin, dill, aniseed and parsley. 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 celery can help minimize the reaction, but some individuals may still be sensitive to cooked celery. Food-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis with celery has been reported when individuals consumed celery in the 4 hours before exercise.

Celery is also associated with phytophotodermatitis, a skin condition that can occur after contact with the food. Compounds in celery are activated by the sun and cause a pigmented, itchy, and occasionally blistering and painful rash on the skin. Cleansing the skin after contact with celery and using sun protection can help to prevent the phytophotodermatitis rash.

As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small quantity of celery for the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the quantity over future meals.

Are the nitrates in celery safe for babies and toddlers?

Yes. You may have heard that celery and other vegetables (like arugula, beets, carrots, lettuce, spinach, and squash to name a few) contain nitrates, naturally-occurring compounds which, if consumed in large amounts, may negatively affect oxygen levels in the blood. Babies younger than 3 months of age and/or those with health concerns may be more susceptible to the effects of nitrates. Organizations such as the American Academy of Pediatrics and the European Food Safety Authority view nitrates in vegetables as generally not a concern for most healthy children and that the benefits of eating these vegetables as part of a varied diet typically outweigh the risks of excess nitrate exposure.

Can babies have celery juice?

No. Juice of any kind should not be given to babies under 12 months of age as a drink, unless directed to do so by a health provider. After the first birthday, small amounts of juice (less than 4 ounces or 118 ml, ideally diluted with water), may be offered on occasion, but is not necessary. While celery juice is regarded as a popular health drink, consider limiting or avoiding celery juice even after 12 months of age, as it can be excessively high in nitrates. While celery juice is not sweet like fruit juices, offering celery in its whole form is still more nutritious.

Can celery help babies poop?

Yes. Celery contains some fiber and water, which help to support healthy gut bacteria, bulk up poop, and hydrate the intestines for healthy digestion and bowel movements. Remember that pooping patterns can vary significantly from baby to baby. If you have concerns about baby’s pooping and digestive function, talk to your pediatric healthcare provider.

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How do you prepare celery 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.

6 to 8 months old:

Cut a stalk of celery crosswise into thin slivers, then cook until soft. From there, mix the cooked slivers into soft foods that baby can scoop with their hands, such as stews, warm cereals, or yogurt.

If you feel comfortable, you can also offer a whole stalk of raw celery as a food teether and as a dipper for other soft, scoopable foods. Munching on the stalk strengthens the jaw, helps the tongue learn to move food to the side of the mouth for chewing, and helps baby “map” the inside of the mouth. For babies with teeth and a strong jaw, it is possible (but unlikely) for them to bite off a piece of celery. If this happens, give baby a moment to spit it out, keeping your fingers out of baby’s mouth. Kneeling down in front of baby so they are looking down at you can allow gravity to help the food come forward in the mouth.

9 months old+:

Offer cooked celery that has been cut into thin slivers, either on their own as finger food or mixed into soft, scoopable food like stews, warm cereals, or yogurt.

12 months old+:

Serve cooked celery that has been cut into thin slivers or, if you feel comfortable with the child’s eating skills, offer raw half-moon slivers of celery. Just make sure to keep the slivers thin and model good chewing for the toddler.

24 months old+:

When a child is regularly showing mature eating skills (taking small bites, moving food to the side of the mouth to be chewed, chewing thoroughly, and not stuffing too much food in their mouth), they may be ready to practice eating long, raw celery stalks in a safe, supervised setting. Celery can pose a high choking risk because of its firm texture, so offer celery stalks when a child is seated, engaged in eating, and supervised closely. Showing how to dip the stalk in hummus, ranch dressing, thinned nut butter, or another sauce or spread can encourage a resistant toddler to try it.

a hand holding twelve thin half moon slivers of celery for 12 mos+
Raw slivers of celery for toddlers 12 months+
a hand holding a single half moon sliver to show its thinness
A raw half moon sliver of celery for toddlers 12 months+

How to prepare celery for babies 6 months+

Learn all about making foods safe in our Starting Solids bundle.

Celery Two Ways with Lamb

Not sure how to introduce this food? Give this recipe a try. Feel free to substitute ingredients and flavor the food with your favorite seasonings.

Ingredients

  • Celery root

  • Celery stalks

  • Onion or shallot

  • Ground lamb (or any ground meat!)

  • Butter, olive oil, or fat of your choice

Directions

  1. Peel the tough skin from 1 medium-sized celery root (about the size of a softball) and rinse under cold water to wash away the dirt. Chop the root then add to a large sauce pan.

  2. Cover with water and bring to a boil, then immediately turn down the heat to medium and gently simmer until the root is fully softened, about 20 minutes. Drain and transfer to a large bowl. Use a fork or a potato masher to mash the celery root. Set aside.

  3. While the celery root is cooking, wash 3 celery stalks, and cut off and set aside the ends and any leafy greens. (They can be tossed in the freezer to be used for future smoothies for yourself.)

  4. Use a vegetable peeler to peel away any tough strings on the outside of the celery stalks, then use a sharp knife to chop the prepared stalks into fine half-moon pieces.

  5. Finely chop 1 medium-sized onion (about the size of a baseball) or 2 shallots. Sauté the onion and celery in butter or the fat of your choice until they are soft and translucent, about 10 minutes. Add 1 pound of ground lamb or the ground meat of your choice and cook until it is well done, about 15 minutes.

  6. Scoop a dollop or two of mashed celery root in a bowl that suctions to the table, then add a heaping spoonful of the celery stalk-meat mixture on top. If your baby is younger than 12 months or needs greater assistance with eating, mix the celery stalk-meat mixture into the mashed celery root. Encourage self-feeding by pre-loading a spoon for your baby to pick up.

Pairings

Celery is a fascinating and unusually salty flavor for a vegetable, and tends to pair well with apple, carrots, fennel, onion, garlic, potato, walnut, tahini, plain yogurt, goat cheese, egg, beef, chicken, lamb and shellfish. And also grandma’s Thanksgiving stuffing!

By

Dr. Sakina Shikari Bajowala

Dr. Sakina Shikari Bajowala

Pediatrician & pediatric allergist/immunologist

Kary Rappaport

Kary Rappaport

Pediatric occupational therapist, feeding & swallowing specialist, international board-certified lactation consultant

K. Tatiana Maldonado

K. Tatiana Maldonado

Speech-language pathologist, feeding & swallowing specialist

Venus Kalami

Venus Kalami

Pediatric registered dietitian & nutritionist

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