Ginger for babies

When can babies have ginger?

From around 6 months, grated or ground into cooking. Start with a small amount — some babies find it sharp — and build up.

How do you serve ginger to a baby?

The shape is what makes a food safe, and it changes as your baby’s grip and chewing change. Find your baby’s age band.

1. 1

   6–8 months

   A small amount grated into a dal, curry, soup or stir-fry. Cook it rather than adding it raw.

2. 2

   9–11 months

   In cooking.

3. 3

   12–18 months

   As the family uses it.

4. 4

   18–24 months

   As the family uses it.

Is ginger a choking hazard for babies?

Grated or ground ginger in cooking poses no risk. Whole pieces of raw ginger are fibrous and should not be given. Crystallised ginger is sugar-coated and chewy and is not a baby food.

Whatever you serve, stay within arm’s reach, keep your baby upright in a supportive seat, and never let them eat in a moving car, buggy or carrier. Gagging is loud and normal. Choking is silent.

Is ginger a common allergen?

Ginger is not one of the nine most common food allergens. Any food can trigger a reaction, though, so offer it on its own the first time and watch for hives, vomiting, swelling or a change in breathing over the next two hours.

Is ginger healthy for babies?

Used in the amounts a baby would eat, ginger is a flavour rather than a nutrient. Its purpose is to widen the range of tastes a baby accepts. Early exposure to varied, well-seasoned food is one of the better-supported ways to reduce fussiness later.

Common questions about ginger

Reference material

Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.

• • NHS — Your baby's first solid foods
• • WHO — Complementary feeding guidance for infants 6–23 months
• • CDC — Foods and Drinks for 6 to 24 Month Olds