Can babies eat green beans?
Becca Inglis
WriterFind out when it’s safe to feed your baby green beans, plus get tips on how to prepare green beans as a vegetable puree or finger food for baby-led weaning
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The official advice on when babies can eat green beans
According to the NHS, it’s safe to give your baby green beans from around six months, when you start to wean them onto solid foods.
It's safest to wait until around six months before giving your baby any solid food, because younger babies may not be able to sit up and swallow well.
Your baby will still be getting the majority of their vitamins from breast or formula milk at six months, so you only need to feed them small amounts of green beans to get them used to the flavour.
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Vegetables like green beans are rich in vitamins and minerals, so are a good food to help your baby get all the nutrients they need that they were previously getting from breast milk or formula.
How to prepare green beans for your baby
Green beans are suitable both for spoon feeding and for baby-led weaning.
If you are spoon feeding, you will puree or mash food and feed it to your baby. Baby-led weaning is where you give your baby finger foods to feed themself.
Neither method is superior to the other, according to the NHS, although giving your baby finger foods will help them to develop their hand-eye coordination.
Fresh or frozen green beans are better for your baby than tinned, as tinned green beans may contain added salt. Babies should not be given salt, as it can be bad for their kidneys.
How to puree green beans
The easiest way to puree vegetables for your baby is to make sure that they are thoroughly cooked first.
Boil or steam your green beans until they are soft – you can test whether they feel soft enough to mash with a fork. Be careful not to overcook your green beans though, or you’ll reduce their flavour and nutrients.
Blend your cooked green beans in a liquidiser. For a more runny puree, you can add water, breast milk or formula as needed.
Wait until your green bean puree has cooled down before serving, so you don’t burn your baby’s mouth.
How to prepare green beans for baby-led weaning
Green beans are a common choking hazard, according to the CDC. They have a tough and stringy texture, which makes them difficult for babies to chew and swallow.
Serve green beans to your baby cooked so that they have a softer texture.
Make sure that they have cooled down after cooking first to make them easier for your baby to hold with their fingers.
Health benefits of green beans for babies
Green beans can be a good source of:
- protein (to help the body grow and repair)
- vitamin C (ascorbic acid - for protecting cells, healthy skin and wound healing)
- vitamin A (for a healthy immune system, skin and vision)
- vitamin K (for helping wounds to heal)
- fibre (for healthy digestion)
- vitamin B6 (pyridoxine - for using and storing energy from foods and forming haemoglobin)
- vitamin E (for strengthening the immune system and healthy skin and eyes)
- manganese (for a healthy metabolism)
Could my baby have a green beans allergy?
Allergies to green beans are rare, but the Anaphylaxis Campaign says that people who are allergic to other legumes, such as peanuts, may find that they get a reaction.
So far, the only allergen that has been identified in green beans is a lipid transfer protein (LPT). If your baby is allergic to lots of foods that contain LPTs – like kiwi, broccoli or asparagus – then they may have LPT Syndrome, according to Allergy Resources.
It's a good idea to introduce foods that can cause an allergy one at a time, with several days between them. That way, if your baby does have a reaction, you'll know which food caused it.
According to the NHS, the main foods that can cause an allergy are:
- cows' milk
- eggs
- foods that contain gluten, including wheat, barley and rye
- nuts and peanuts (serve them crushed or ground)
- seeds (serve them crushed or ground)
- soya
- shellfish (don't serve raw or lightly cooked)
- fish
So try to avoid giving any of these other foods at the same time as you give your baby green beans for the first time.
Signs of allergies in babies
If your baby does have an allergy, you'll probably notice one or more of the following symptoms:
- diarrhoea or vomiting
- a cough
- wheezing and shortness of breath
- itchy throat and tongue
- itchy skin or rash
- swollen lips and throat
- runny or blocked nose
- sore, red and itchy eyes
If you think your baby may have an allergy, speak to your health visitor or GP. If the reaction is mild, don't cut important foods out of your baby's diet until you've received medical advice, as your baby could miss out on important nutrients.
Very rarely, green beans can cause a severe allergic reaction known as anaphylaxis, which can be life-threatening. If your baby has trouble breathing, or loses consciousness, call 999 for an ambulance straight away and tell them that you think it could be anaphylaxis.
Green bean recipes for babies
- Vegetable soup for babies and toddlers
- Baby beef stew
- Chunky vegetable soup for kids
- Weaning vegetables in cheese sauce (dairy free)
Need advice?
Our health visitors and nursery nurses are on line Monday to Friday evenings to answer your queries on feeding, sleep and child health.
Looking for more tips on feeding your baby? Check out our articles below, or swap tips and meal ideas with other parents in our forum.
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