Allergen note
Broccoli is not a common food allergen, and reactions are rare. It makes a good first vegetable from around 6 months, once your baby shows signs of being ready for solids. Like other cabbage-family vegetables, it can cause some gas while your baby's gut adjusts.
How to serve
At 6–8 months, offer large steamed florets with a bit of stalk left on as a handle, or mash broccoli into potato or other purées. From 9 months, chop soft florets into small pieces for the pincer grasp. Toddlers can eat soft bite-sized florets and thinly sliced cooked stalk in pasta, rice or omelets.
Preparation
Wash the head, cut it into florets and peel the tough outer skin of the stalk, which is tasty once cooked. Steam for 5–8 minutes or roast with a little oil until a fork pierces the stalk easily and the florets squash between your fingers. Skip salt; a squeeze of lemon adds flavor.
Texture and choking risk
Raw or firm broccoli and the tough stalk are hard to chew, and small crumbly bits of floret can make babies gag. Cook it until very soft, offer florets either large and whole or finely chopped rather than in medium chunks, save raw broccoli for older children, and always supervise while your baby eats sitting upright.
Sources: cdc.gov · cdc.gov · healthychildren.org · healthychildren.org · nhs.uk · nhs.uk · nhs.uk
Starting ages are typical guidance for healthy, full-term babies who show signs of readiness. Your paediatrician may advise differently, especially where there is a family history of allergy.
Track first tastes and reactions
Log when your child first tries broccoli, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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