Herbs & spices

Cinnamon for babies

There is no reason to feed a baby bland food. Cinnamon is a good first spice: warm, sweet-tasting without sugar, and it goes in almost anything.

Age suggestion 6 months+ Choking risk Low Iron-rich No Common allergen No

When can babies have cinnamon?

From around 6 months. Only salt, sugar and honey are restricted in an infant diet — herbs and spices are not, and early exposure to varied flavours makes for a less fussy toddler.

How do you serve cinnamon 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.

6–8 months

A pinch stirred into porridge, apple purée, yogurt or sweet potato mash.
9–11 months

In cooking and baking.
12–18 months

As the family uses it.
18–24 months

As the family uses it.

Prep tip

A pinch of cinnamon in porridge or apple makes it taste sweeter with no sugar. It is the single most useful spice in a baby's kitchen.

Storage

Ground spices lose potency within a year. Buy small quantities.

Is cinnamon a choking hazard for babies?

Choking risk Low

Ground cinnamon stirred into food poses no risk. Never let a child inhale dry cinnamon powder, and cinnamon sticks are a hard object that should not be given as a teether.

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 cinnamon a common allergen?

Common allergen No

Cinnamon is not a common allergen, though large amounts of cassia cinnamon carry coumarin, which is best not consumed daily in quantity. Ceylon cinnamon has far less. Ordinary pinches in cooking are not a concern.

Is cinnamon healthy for babies?

Nutritionally negligible in the amounts used, but that is not why it is here. A baby fed bland food learns to expect bland food. Cinnamon makes porridge, apple and yogurt taste sweeter without any added sugar, which is a genuinely useful trick.

What cinnamon brings
Manganese	High
Polyphenols	Very high
Calcium	Some
Iron per serving	~0.1 mg

Common questions about cinnamon

Can babies have spices?

Yes, from 6 months. The only things restricted are salt, sugar and honey. Herbs, spices, garlic and citrus are all fine and help build acceptance of family food.

Is there a limit on cinnamon?

For everyday cooking amounts, no. Cassia cinnamon contains coumarin, which is why very large daily doses are not advised; Ceylon cinnamon contains far less. Pinches in food are fine.

Reference material

Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.

Foods parents look at next

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Ginger

Warm rather than hot — a good early spice that is milder cooked than raw.

6 months+ Choking risk Low

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Turmeric

Mild, earthy and it stains everything — a fine spice for a baby.

6 months+ Choking risk Low

Grains

Oatmeal

An iron-fortified porridge is one of the simplest ways to hit a 6-month-old's iron target.

6 months+ Choking risk Low Iron-rich

Fruit

Apple

Cook it, grate it, or purée it — raw apple chunks are a choking hazard until about 4 years.

6 months+ Choking risk High