BabyJoy
Chickpeas for babies
When and how to serve chickpeas at every stage of starting solids.
- Introduce from
- 6–9 months
- Safety notes
- Common choking hazard
How to prepare chickpeas by age
6–9 months
Smash or flatten to prevent choking. Can serve as hummus.
9–12 months
Can serve whole if soft. Great in patties.
12 months+
Soft-cooked chickpeas, lightly flattened, in stews or as hummus. Avoid hard roasted chickpeas — a choking hazard for young children.
Choking hazard
Chickpeas can be a choking hazard for babies and young children. Prepare it exactly as described for your baby’s age, seat your baby upright and always supervise meals.
Gagging (loud coughing, watery eyes, a red face) is a normal part of learning to eat. Choking is silent: your baby cannot cough, cry or breathe and needs immediate help. Learn infant CPR and choking rescue.
Nutrition highlights
- Protein rich
- High fiber
- Iron rich
- Folate rich
Serving ideas
- Hummus
- Roasted chickpeas
- Chickpea patties
- In curry
Prepare these as described above for your baby’s age.
Choosing and storing
Storage: Canned: pantry until opened. Cooked: refrigerate for 4-5 days.
Recipes with chickpeas
Sources
This guide is based on published guidance from:
