Green Beans
6 months and up
⚡ Quick answer
Green beans (fresh string beans) can be given from 6 months onward, cooked until thoroughly softened and pureed or in soft pieces.
How to serve it by age?
Steam or boil until thoroughly soft, remove the ends and any strings; make a smooth puree, or offer as easy-to-grip long strips soft enough to be mashed with a finger.
Chop the soft-cooked beans into small 1-2 cm pieces; the baby can grip them with their fingers. Make sure they are of a mashable consistency.
You can offer soft-cooked green beans from the family meal (e.g. cooked in olive oil) in small pieces, from an unsalted portion.
🫁 Choking risk and safe serving
Raw or undercooked beans are firm and fibrous and pose a choking risk; always cook them until thoroughly soft, remove the tough fibrous ends, puree them at 6-8 months, and separate them into small soft pieces for older babies.
📌 Watch out for these
- Do not give them raw; undercooked beans are both hard to digest and a choking risk.
- Canned beans can be high in salt; under 1 year prefer fresh or unsalted, and if you use them, rinse well with plenty of water.
- When giving for the first time, try for 2-3 days without mixing with other new foods.
Related recipes
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- 🍲 Broccoli Purée — A Soft, Nourishing Green First Vegetable for 6+ Months
- 🍲 First Zucchini Purée — A Light, Easy-to-Digest Green Vegetable for 6+ Months
Related guides
⚕️ This page summarizes general pediatric recommendations; it is not medical advice. For babies with a history of allergies and whenever you are unsure, consult your pediatrician.