FirstNom
Herbs & spices
Basil for babies
Herbs are how you season a baby's food when salt is off the table. Basil is soft, mild and blends into almost anything.
When can babies have basil?
From around 6 months, chopped finely into food. Herbs are unrestricted in an infant diet — only salt, sugar and honey are.
How do you serve basil 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.
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6–8 months
Finely chopped into tomato sauce, pasta or vegetable purée. Or blended into an unsalted pesto.
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9–11 months
Chopped into cooked dishes or blended into sauces.
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12–18 months
As the family uses it.
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18–24 months
As the family uses it.
Prep tip
Unsalted pesto — basil, olive oil, ground pine nut or cashew, no parmesan or salt — turns plain pasta into a real meal and freezes in cubes.
Storage
Fresh basil hates the fridge; stand it in water on the counter. Blitz surplus into oil and freeze in ice-cube trays.
Is basil a choking hazard for babies?
Chopped fresh basil poses no risk. Whole large leaves can stick to the roof of the mouth — chop them finely for the first year.
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 basil a common allergen?
Basil 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 basil healthy for babies?
In practical amounts basil is a flavour rather than a nutrient. Its role is important anyway: a baby's food has to taste of something, and with salt restricted, herbs are the main tool available. Pesto made without salt or parmesan is a good way to get herbs and olive oil into a meal at once.
| Vitamin K | High |
|---|---|
| Polyphenols | Good source |
| Manganese | Some |
| Iron per serving | ~0.1 mg |
Common questions about basil
Can babies have herbs?
Yes, all of them, from 6 months. Only salt, sugar and honey are restricted. Herbs are the most useful way to make food taste good without salt.
Is shop-bought pesto suitable?
Usually too salty, and most contain parmesan and pine nuts. Make your own without salt or cheese — it takes two minutes in a blender.
Reference material
Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.
Foods parents look at next
Vegetable
Tomato
Vitamin C for iron absorption — and cherry tomatoes are in the grape hazard class.
Grains
Pasta
Big shapes are easier than small ones — fusilli and penne beat spaghetti for a beginner.
Other
Olive oil
The simplest way to raise the calorie density of a baby's meal.
Herbs & spices
Garlic
Cooked garlic is sweet, not sharp — and it is safe from 6 months.