Tofu for Babies: When to Start and How to Serve It by Age

• From around 6 months
• Common allergen (soya)
• Plain, no soy sauce

Tofu is made from soya beans, and soya is a common allergen. You can offer it from around 6 months, once your baby has started solids, one new allergen at a time. It’s a soft source of protein that’s easy to mash, crumble or cut into strips. Choose plain tofu and skip soy sauce and salty marinades.

📲 12 Bibful recipes with tofu

How to serve it by age

1. 6–8 months

   ✋ Finger food (BLW)

   Long, finger-sized strips of firm tofu, lightly cooked so they hold together but squash easily.

   🥣 Purée or spoon

   Mash soft or silken tofu into vegetable purée, or blend it into porridge.

3. 9–12 months

   ✋ Finger food (BLW)

   Soft, small bite-sized cubes of cooked tofu, easy to pick up between finger and thumb.

   🥣 Purée or spoon

   Crumble tofu into sauces or vegetables, or scramble it like egg.

5. 12+ months

   ✋ Finger food (BLW)

   Small cubes or crumbled tofu in family meals such as stir-fries, without salty sauces.

   🥣 Purée or spoon

   Stir crumbled or silken tofu into soups, curries and pasta sauces.

Have tofu at home? See what you can cook

Add a second ingredient to see matching Bibful recipes.

✓ Tofu+ 🍚 Rice+ 🫑 Red Pepper+ 🥚 Egg+ 🫛 Peas+ 🥭 Mango

12 Bibful recipes with tofu

• 
  No-Bake Tofu Cheesecake Bowl6 min · from 6 months
• 
  Egg & Tofu Scramble10 min · from 6 months
• 
  Sesame Tofu Strips with Broccoli15 min · from 6 months

See the recipes in Bibful

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Preparation tips

• Do the squash test. A piece should squash easily between your thumb and finger.
• Skip the soy sauce. Soy sauce and many marinades are very salty; season with herbs or a little garlic instead.
• Plain, not flavoured. Smoked and marinated tofu can be salty; choose plain firm or silken tofu.

• How to introduce allergens safely

Frequently asked questions

When can babies eat tofu?

From around 6 months, once your baby has started solids. Soya is a common allergen, so start with a little and watch for a reaction.

Firm or silken tofu?

Firm tofu holds together for finger food; silken tofu is softer and easy to blend into purées, porridge and sauces.

What are the signs of an allergic reaction?

Signs can include hives or a rash, swelling of the lips or face, vomiting, or coughing and wheezing, usually soon after eating. If your baby has trouble breathing or swallowing, call emergency services straight away. For milder signs, stop giving tofu and speak to your GP.

More first foods

• 🍎 Apple
• 🥑 Avocado
• 🍌 Banana
• 🥩 Beef
• 🫐 Blueberries
• 🍞 Bread
• 🥦 Broccoli
• 🎃 Butternut squash
• 🥕 Carrot
• 🥦 Cauliflower
• 🌿 Celery
• 🧀 Cheese
• 🍗 Chicken
• 🫘 Chickpeas
• 🥥 Coconut
• 🥒 Courgette
• 🥚 Egg
• 🫛 Green beans
• 🍖 Lamb
• 🫘 Lentils
• 🥭 Mango
• 🥛 Cow’s milk
• 🥣 Oats
• 🍝 Pasta
• 🥜 Peanut
• 🍐 Pear
• 🫛 Peas
• 🥔 Potato
• 🦐 Prawns
• 🫑 Red pepper
• 🍚 Rice
• 🐟 Salmon
• 🥬 Spinach
• 🍓 Strawberries
• 🍠 Sweet potato
• 🥄 Tahini
• 🍅 Tomato
• 🌰 Walnut
• 🥛 Yogurt

This page is general information, not medical advice. It follows NHS Start for Life and World Health Organization guidance on introducing solid foods. Always stay with your baby while they eat, and speak to your health visitor or GP if you have concerns about feeding, allergies or choking.