Allergen note
Potato allergy is rare, and cooked potato is usually well tolerated. Offer plain potato on its own the first few times, before adding butter, cheese or milk, so you can tell how your baby responds. Add unsalted butter only once dairy has been introduced.
How to serve
From around 6 months, offer soft-cooked potato wedges with the skin on for grip, or mash potato with breast milk, formula or a little olive oil. From 9 months, cut it into small cubes for pincer practice. Save fries, chips and salty mashed potato for occasional family meals when older.
Preparation
Scrub potatoes well, cut out eyes and green patches, and throw away any that are very green or sprouting. Boil, steam or bake until a fork slides in easily, without salt. Roast only to golden rather than dark brown, and let potato cool before serving, since the inside stays hot.
Texture and choking risk
Undercooked or crispy potato can break into hard pieces, small whole new potatoes are round and can lodge in the throat, and dry mash can stick in the mouth. Cook potato until very soft, halve or flatten small potatoes, loosen mash with a little liquid, cut wedges large enough to hold, and always supervise meals.
Sources: cdc.gov · cdc.gov · healthychildren.org · healthychildren.org · 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 potato, note any reaction and see it in the allergen tracker.
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