General information, not medical advice. Talk to your pediatrician before starting solids or allergens.

Lentils, watercolor illustration
Legumes

Lentils for babies

When and how to serve lentils at every stage of starting solids.

Introduce from
6–9 months
Safety notes
No choking or allergen flag
  • Iron rich
  • Protein rich

How to prepare lentils by age

  1. 6–9 months

    Cook until very soft. Can mash slightly or serve whole.

  2. 9–12 months

    Serve in soups, mixed with grains, or as patties.

  3. 12 months+

    Any preparation as tolerated.

Nutrition highlights

  • Iron rich
  • Protein rich
  • High fiber
  • Folate rich

Serving ideas

  • Lentil dal
  • Mixed with rice
  • Lentil patties
  • In soup

Prepare these as described above for your baby’s age.

Choosing and storing

Storage: Dry: store in airtight container. Cooked: refrigerate for 5 days.

Recipes with lentils

Sources

This guide is based on published guidance from:

More legumes

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