Quick answer
Most babies are ready to start solids around 6 months, once they can sit up with support, hold their head steady, and show interest in food. Celery can be introduced at this stage, but only when it is cooked until very soft or finely minced. Raw, crunchy celery sticks are not appropriate for babies and should wait until the toddler years.
When can babies eat celery?
Most babies are ready to start solids around 6 months, once they can sit up with support, hold their head steady, and show interest in food. Celery can be introduced at this stage, but only when it is cooked until very soft or finely minced. Raw, crunchy celery sticks are not appropriate for babies and should wait until the toddler years.
Celery is not a common allergen, and there is no reason to delay introducing it once your baby is eating solids. Offer it alongside a variety of other vegetables, and always serve it in a form that matches your baby's chewing and grasping abilities.
See our first foods for baby guide for more ideas.
Safety Tips
- ✓Always cook celery until very soft for babies; raw celery is a choking hazard and should wait until the toddler years.
- ✓Remove the tough stringy fibers along each celery stalk before serving, as strings can be hard for babies to manage.
- ✓Avoid small round chunks and hard pieces; match the cut shape and size to your baby's age and chewing ability.
- ✓Stay within arm's reach and supervise your baby closely during every meal, and never let them eat while moving, crawling, or reclining.
Select Baby's Age
How to cut celery for a 6 month old
At 6 months, raw celery is too firm and stringy to be safe, so always cook it first. Steam or simmer celery until it is completely soft and squishes easily between your finger and thumb, then cut along the stalk to remove any tough strings. Serve it as a soft, flat finger-length strip about 8 to 10 cm long and 1 to 2 cm wide, so your baby can grasp it with the end sticking out of a closed fist. Alternatively, finely mince or mash the cooked celery and stir it into purees, mashed potato, or other soft foods. Avoid any raw celery, hard or fibrous pieces, and small round chunks at this stage, as these are choking hazards.
6 month baby feeding schedule for more tips.
Celery recipe ideas for babies
Once celery is cooked soft and prepared safely, it blends easily into many gentle, baby-friendly meals. See our baby recipes.
- ★Soft celery and potato mash thinned with a little breast milk or formula
- ★Pureed celery and carrot soup served warm, not hot
- ★Finely minced cooked celery stirred into soft lentils or beans
- ★Diced soft celery mixed into a mild vegetable and rice mash
Explore our baby-led weaning food list and first foods for baby for more inspiration.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can babies eat celery?
Most babies can eat celery from around 6 months when starting solids. Always serve it in a safe size and texture appropriate for your baby's age and development.
How do you cut celery for baby led weaning?
For babies around 6 months, celery should be cut into large pieces that are easy to grasp with their hands. As babies develop their chewing skills, the pieces can gradually become smaller.
How to serve celery baby led weaning?
For BLW, cut celery into strips or wedges that babies can hold. The texture should be soft enough to mash easily with gentle pressure.
Can babies choke on celery?
celery can become a choking hazard if served in small round or hard pieces. Cutting it into larger soft pieces appropriate for baby-led weaning helps reduce choking risk.
How should celery be served to a 6 month old?
At around 6 months, celery should be served in large soft pieces that babies can hold with their hands.
Is celery safe for baby led weaning?
celery can be included in baby-led weaning when cut into safe shapes and soft textures that babies can hold and gum.
How small should celery be cut for older babies?
From around 9 months, babies typically use a pincer grasp, so celery can be cut into smaller pea-sized pieces. Continue ensuring pieces are soft enough to mash and watch for any choking risk shapes.
Should celery be cooked or raw for babies?
Cook celery until easily mashable when raw textures are too firm for babies to gum. Soft ripe fruits are often offered raw, while firmer foods are typically steamed, roasted, or boiled until tender.
Can celery be served as a finger food at 6 months?
Yes, celery can be a 6-month finger food when cut into long graspable strips and softened to a mashable texture. Always supervise meals and adjust shape as your baby's chewing skills develop.
How to cut celery for a 7 month old?
At 7 months babies still use a palmar (whole-hand) grasp. Cut celery into long strips about 2-3 inches long and finger-width thick, with part sticking out of the fist for chewing. Soft enough to mash between two fingers.
How to cut celery for an 8 month old?
At 8 months babies are refining grasp and may begin pincering. Continue offering celery in 2-inch strips alongside a few small pea-sized pieces to practice the pincer grasp. Cooked until easily mashable.
How to cut celery for a 9 month old?
At 9 months most babies have developed the pincer grasp. Cut celery into pea-sized pieces (about ½ inch / 1.5 cm) for self-feeding practice. Continue avoiding round, hard, or sticky shapes; soft enough to mash with mild pressure.
How to cut celery for a 10 month old?
At 10 months babies eat a wider variety of textures. Offer celery in pea-sized pieces or small bite-sized cubes (½ inch / 1.5 cm). They can manage slightly firmer textures, but pieces should still mash easily.
How to cut celery for a 12 month old?
From 12 months babies eat in pieces about ½ inch (1.5 cm). Round foods (grapes, cherry tomatoes) must still be quartered until age 4 due to choking risk. Soft enough to chew without much molar work.
Can babies eat celery for breakfast?
Yes — celery can be part of a balanced baby breakfast when prepared in baby-safe shapes. Pair with a protein, healthy fat, or whole grain (eggs, yogurt, oats, nut butter on toast) for a complete morning meal.
verifiedSources & References
This guide is informed by current guidelines from leading health organizations:
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