Carrot Recipes for Baby

Carrots make an ideal finger food for babies. Here's how to prepare them, along with serving suggestions for babies 6 months and older.

When can babies eat carrots?

This nutritious vegetable can be offered to babies as soon as they’re ready to start solids, usually around 6 months. It’s important to remember that your baby is unique and that rather than going by the calendar, you need to make sure your baby is DEVELOPMENTALLY ready to start solids.

Health Benefits

Just like sweet potatoes, carrots are one of the best food sources of beta-carotene. Once consumed, the body converts beta-carotene to vitamin A, which is essential for good vision, cell growth, and a healthy immune system.

Carrots are also rich in several B vitamins, vitamin K, potassium, and fiber. These nutrients make them a great addition to a baby's diet, providing a variety of health benefits.

Carrots come in different colors, all of which are wonderful to introduce to your baby. While they have similar vitamin and mineral content, their antioxidant profiles differ significantly.

Orange-fleshed carrots are rich in carotenoids, purple varieties are high in anthocyanins, and white-fleshed carrots have the lowest amount of antioxidants. Each type offers unique benefits, making them all valuable for a well-rounded diet.

Are carrots safe for babies?

Raw carrot sticks and baby carrots are choking hazards, so they must be offered in an appropriate size and texture. Let me show you how! It is also not a common allergen.

Note that carrots (organic and conventional) contain arsenic and other heavy metals that are found in the soil and water. While this may be concerning, it’s nearly impossible to avoid these contaminants. So DON’T stop offering!

Just like with rice, as long as you are offering a wide variety of foods and not serving carrots all the time, there’s no need to worry.

Cooking Methods

Here are the two best cooking methods for babies. The vegetable must be cooked until soft enough to be easily smashed between thumb and forefinger.

I don’t recommend roasting carrots for this age as the exterior of the vegetable can get too crispy or even burnt before it softens. You can boil it, but I don’t recommend it as most of the nutrients will leach into the water.

In regards to size, cut into big strips. Once cooked, you can cut it into smaller pieces depending on your baby’s age. This way you can serve both big and small pieces as I suggest below.

Steam

Place water in a pot, add a steamer basket, and bring to a boil. Add carrots, cover, reduce heat to medium, and cook for 15-20 minutes. It should be easily pierce-able with a fork.

Steam roast

This method is my personal favorite! If you are new to this cooking method, there is no need to feel intimidated. It’s SO easy to do and much more flavorful than plain steaming.

Plus you can toss the carrots with oil, which will aid in the absorption of vitamin A, a fat-soluble vitamin.

How it works:

The hot oven and moisture from the veggies create steam (once covered) making them soft, but because they’re roasted, the flavors become more concentrated.

Simply add carrots to a baking pan, toss with oil and seasoning(s) of choice, COVER, and roast at 425°F for 15-20 minutes! Perfectly soft and flavorful!

It’s ok if they overlap a little bit. It will create more steam resulting in softer carrots.

How to serve for baby-led weaning

6+ months old

Pureed – Add cooked carrots into a blender and blend until smooth. Add breastmilk/formula, water, or even broth to thin out to desired consistency.

Mashed – Whether you are advancing in texture after doing purees or starting with baby-led weaning, this is such an easy and versatile way to serve carrots to your baby.

Finely grated – I like to use the smallest hole in the box grater.

You can add mashed or finely grated carrots to:

• Homemade baby oatmeal

• Quinoa

• Lentils

• Pancakes

• Chia Pudding

• Overnight oats/quinoa

• Toast

• Yogurt

• Vegetable omelette

6-9 months old

Bigger is better and safer at this age so your baby can easily grab the food with their palm and bring it to mouth.

Cut into big strips (at least 1 inch in width). Again, the carrots should be easy to smush between your thumb and forefinger.

Once your baby has had more experience with texture, you can try offering shredded carrots by using the small or larger hole on the box grater.

Examples

These are actual plates that I served to my son at this age.

1. A big carrot strip + Quinoa carrot fingers + yellow squash

2. Add to baked goods: Veggie chickpea sticks + broccoli

3. Chop and add to any family meals

4. Add finely grated carrots to other foods: Overnight carrot cake oats

9+ months old

As your baby develops their pincer grasp and can pick up small pieces of food using their thumb and finger, you can cut them into small, bite-sized pieces. I still suggest continuing to offer larger pieces so they can practice taking bites.

If you haven’t already, this is a good time to introduce utensils. Your baby will most likely just play around or toss it. But it’s still great for exposure!

Try forking a piece of carrot and plate on their plate. Be sure to continue modeling. They are like sponges and learn by watching you!

Frequently Asked Questions

Can carrots make babies gassy?

It can be due to its high soluble fiber content. However, just like with broccoli and beans, you shouldn’t eliminate them.

If your baby is gassy but doesn’t seem to be in discomfort, there’s no reason to worry. If your baby is extra gassy after eating carrots, you can cut back on how frequently they are served.

When can babies have raw carrots?

There is no set timeline as to exactly what age you should try offering them. That’s because every child is different. It depends on many different factors, such as the number of teeth and your child’s eating/chewing skills.

So be observant, stay close, and move forward as you and your child feel confident and ready.  Here’s how to introduce raw vegetables to your toddler.

How should I store leftovers?

Transfer to an airtight container and keep in the fridge for up to 5 days. Since they’re very soft in texture, I don’t recommend freezing them. If you have a lot of leftovers and want to invite more variety, add them to the recipes I suggest below!

How should I reheat leftovers?

I suggest reheating very briefly in the microwave. Otherwise, the carrots will get too mushy. I like to serve straight from the fridge or allow it to come to room temperature.