Tomato for Babies: When to Start and How to Serve It by Age
- From around 6 months
- Not a common allergen
- Cherry tomatoes: quarter them
Tomato can be offered from around 6 months, once your baby has started solids. Choose ripe, soft tomatoes: large wedges to hold at first, then small pieces. Cherry tomatoes are a choking risk, so always cut them into quarters, lengthwise. Homemade tomato sauce without added salt is a great base for pasta and vegetables.
📲 106 Bibful recipes with tomatoHow to serve it by age
-
6–8 months
✋ Finger food (BLW)
Large wedges of ripe, soft tomato to hold and suck.
🥣 Purée or spoon
Blend cooked tomato into vegetable purées or soft lentils.
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9–12 months
✋ Finger food (BLW)
Small soft pieces of ripe tomato, or cherry tomatoes cut into quarters lengthwise.
🥣 Purée or spoon
Stir chopped tomato into pasta, rice or scrambled egg.
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12+ months
✋ Finger food (BLW)
Cherry tomatoes quartered lengthwise, or small pieces of ripe tomato in family meals.
🥣 Purée or spoon
Homemade tomato sauce without added salt, on pasta or with vegetables.
Have tomato at home? See what you can cook
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106 Bibful recipes with tomato
Tomato Salsa5 min · from 6 months
Caprese (Mozzarella, Tomato & Basil)8 min · from 6 months
Sardine & Tomato Salad10 min · from 6 months
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Preparation tips
- Quarter cherry tomatoes. Cut small round tomatoes lengthwise into quarters; whole or halved, they’re a choking risk.
- Ripe and soft. Firm, unripe tomato is harder to manage; choose ripe tomatoes that squash easily.
- Make your own sauce. Ready-made pasta sauces are often salty; a quick homemade sauce needs no salt.
Frequently asked questions
When can babies eat tomato?
From around 6 months, once your baby has started solids, as ripe wedges, small soft pieces or cooked into purées and sauces.
Why does my baby get a red rash around the mouth after tomato?
Tomato is acidic, and a red rash where it touched the skin is often irritation that fades quickly. If your baby also has swelling, hives elsewhere or vomiting, stop and speak to your GP.
Do I need to peel tomatoes?
No. Ripe tomato skin is fine in wedges and small pieces. For smooth purées you can peel it if your baby prefers.
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
- Tofu
- 🌰 Walnut
- 🥛 Yogurt
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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.