Why feed sweet potato to your baby?
Whatever age you’re dishing up sweet potatoes, they’re a great way to add some nutrients to your child’s diet. They’re a great source of fibre, vitamins C and E, potassium, and beta-carotene – which converts into vitamin A. Plus, they have a naturally sweet taste that many little ones love, even in those early stages!
How to serve sweet potato to your child in an age-appropriate way
To help you decide the best way to serve sweet potato to your little one, we’ve created a brief video breaking it down into stages. Here’s a little more detail…
6-9 months
When your little one begins their weaning journey, getting used to any kind of solid food is a huge step. Sweet potato is an excellent way to introduce solids to your baby, as it can be easily transformed into a consistency that’s much more suitable to their little palates.
Once your sweet potato is baked, you can either mash it up with a fork or potato masher, or blend it into a puree. That way, it’s super easy for either spoon feeding or for getting stuck in with little hands.
9-12 months
After a few months of soft purees and mashed vegetables, your little one will move on to something a little sturdier. However, it’s important that you make sure the food is still soft for their little mouths.
At around 9-12 months old, cut your sweet potato into strips or wedges, and bake them until they’re soft enough to squish with your fingers.
12-24 months
Now that your baby is really starting to hone their weaning skills, you can take another step up in terms of texture and consistency. Remember, there’s still a risk of choking, so be wary of how big you chop your fruit and vegetables.
When serving your sweet potato to a child around this age, we recommend using your pinky finger as a measuring tool. Cut your little cubes into roughly the size of the fingernail on your little finger, bake, and serve!
24+ months
By around 2 years old, your child is probably ready for some slightly larger sweet potato cubes, baked in the same way as before. These versatile little veggies can be served on their own as a snack, or as part of a meal.
This is a great dish for encouraging your child to use cutlery. While it’s tempting to grab at the cubes with their hands, mastering the art of picking them up with a fork is a vital life skill.
Sweet Potato recipes you might like
Please note…
You should always supervise your child when they’re eating.
The age ranges provided are a loose indication of the different stages your baby will go through when weaning, but every child is different. Your baby will show signs that they’re ready to take the next step. For example, if they’re struggling to chew the sweet potato, they may not be ready.
