Carrot for Baby

Carrots make a good first vegetable for infants due to the nutrition, taste and texture, advises Dr. Ari Brown, a pediatrician in Boulder, Colo. Carrots are easy for babies to swallow and digest. Most babies like the taste, too, because they have a natural preference for sweets; carrots are one of the sweetest of all vegetables.

It’s best to feed your baby soft, smooth foods before moving on to thicker foods. You can easily mash or puree cooked carrots to achieve a soft, smooth texture. The appropriate texture will allow your infant’s tongue and mouth to control and easily swallow the food. Mash fresh, cooked carrots with a fork, or use a blender or food processor. Commercial baby foods containing carrots are the appropriate texture. Do not add salt or other seasonings to home-cooked carrots, advises the American Academy of Pediatrics.