Your baby’s first Thanksgiving is coming, the table will be full, and someone is bound to ask, “Can the baby have some turkey?” If you’re wondering what can babies eat at Thanksgiving, the good news is that a lot of the meal can work for a baby who has started solids, with a few small changes. Here’s a dish-by-dish plate guide based on CDC and American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) advice, plus the short list of things to skip.
Quick answer: what can babies eat at Thanksgiving?
- If your baby has started solids, many plain Thanksgiving foods can be shared: turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, squash and soft-cooked green beans.
- Set a baby portion aside before salt, sauces or toppings go in. The AAP advises cooking food for babies with no added salt or seasoning.
- Match the texture to your baby: smooth or mashed for new eaters, small soft pieces for babies who eat finger foods.
- Skip anything made with honey before 12 months. The CDC says honey can cause a severe food poisoning called botulism in babies this young.
- Skip marshmallows, nuts, popcorn, whole corn kernels and tough chunks of meat. They are all on the CDC’s list of choking hazards.
- Skip cranberry sauce, pie and other sweet dishes. The CDC advises no added sugars before age 2.
- Stick to foods your baby has already tried. The AAP suggests adding one new single-ingredient food every 3 to 5 days.
Before the meal: three quick decisions
A busy holiday table is not the easiest place to make feeding decisions on the spot. Settle these three things the day before, and the meal itself gets a lot calmer.
- Which foods has your baby already eaten? Build the plate from those. The AAP suggests introducing one new single-ingredient food every 3 to 5 days and watching for reactions, which is hard to do with a plate of mixed holiday dishes.
- Which texture is your baby ready for? The AAP says first foods should be soft or pureed, and that finger foods should be soft, easy to swallow and cut into small pieces once your baby can sit up and bring things to their mouth. See our month-by-month guide to introducing solid foods.
- Who is feeding the baby? Pick one adult. The CDC advises watching your child at all times while they eat and having them sit up while eating. With many hands passing food around, one person in charge keeps things simple.
The Thanksgiving plate, dish by dish
| Dish | For baby? | How to make it baby-friendly |
|---|---|---|
| Turkey | Yes, plain | Cook to 165°F, the CDC’s safe temperature for poultry. Puree or shred very finely and moisten with breast milk or formula. Skip tough or large chunks and crispy skin. |
| Mashed potatoes | Yes, a plain portion | Scoop some out before salt, gravy, cheese or bacon go in. Thin with breast milk or formula if needed. |
| Sweet potatoes | Yes, plain | Mash or serve soft-cooked pieces. Skip the marshmallow and brown sugar topping. |
| Squash or pumpkin (not pie) | Yes, plain | Mash or serve soft, small pieces. |
| Green beans | Yes, soft-cooked | Cook until very soft, then mash or cut small. Skip the casserole with its salty sauce and crunchy fried onions. |
| Corn | Only mashed or pureed | The CDC lists whole corn kernels as a choking hazard. |
| Stuffing or dressing | Usually skip | Often salty, and may contain nuts, seeds or sausage, which are on the CDC choking list. |
| Gravy | Skip | Usually high in salt. The CDC advises avoiding salty foods for young children. |
| Cranberry sauce | Skip | Contains added sugar. |
| Rolls and bread | Small plain pieces | Choose soft bread without seeds, nuts or whole grain kernels. |
| Pie and desserts | Skip | Added sugar, and some contain honey or nuts. |
| Honey-glazed ham | Skip | Honey before 12 months, and processed meats are often high in salt. |
| Apple cider or juice | Skip | The CDC says children under 12 months should not drink fruit or vegetable juice. |
The baby portion routine (5 minutes)
This is the simplest way to share the meal without cooking anything extra.
- While the food is still plain, spoon a little turkey, potato, sweet potato and vegetables into a small bowl or container.
- Mash or puree it for a new eater, or cut it into small, soft pieces for a baby who eats finger foods.
- Do a quick texture check: soft enough to mash easily, with no hard, round or sticky bits.
- Seat your baby upright in the high chair with one adult watching.
- Put leftovers in the fridge within 2 hours. The CDC advises refrigerating cooked leftovers within 2 hours (within 1 hour if the food has been somewhere above 90°F).
What your baby can have, by stage
| Stage | Good options | Still skip |
|---|---|---|
| Just started solids | Smooth or well-mashed turkey, potato, sweet potato, squash or green beans, one familiar food at a time | Honey, juice, cow’s milk to drink, salty or sweet dishes, anything new |
| Eating soft finger foods | Finely shredded turkey, soft potato or sweet potato pieces, soft green beans cut small, small pieces of plain soft bread | Honey, nuts, popcorn, marshmallows, whole corn kernels, tough meat, stuffing, gravy, desserts |
| Over 12 months | Most of the plain meal, cut small and soft | Choking hazards still apply. The CDC advises no added sugars before age 2 and limiting salty foods. |
After 12 months, the CDC no longer lists honey or cow’s milk as off-limits, but the choking hazard list applies to toddlers too. Our guide to choking hazards for babies has the full picture, and you’ll find more in our baby feeding guides.
New foods and allergies on the big day
Holiday dishes often mix several ingredients at once, such as milk, egg, wheat and nuts. If your baby tries a mixed dish for the first time and has a reaction, it’s hard to tell which ingredient caused it. That’s why it helps to keep Thanksgiving to foods your baby already knows and save new foods for an ordinary day.
MedlinePlus (from the U.S. National Library of Medicine) says food allergy symptoms usually start within about two hours of eating, and can include hives, swelling of the lips, face or tongue, wheezing, vomiting or diarrhea. If your baby has severe eczema or an egg allergy, the AAP recommends testing for peanut allergy, so talk to your pediatrician before offering peanut. Read more in our guide to allergies in babies.
Keeping it calm with family
Most relatives just want to share the moment. A short, friendly plan makes that easy:
- Tell people ahead of time: “We’re keeping it simple this year: plain turkey and potatoes for the baby.”
- Put the baby’s bowl in front of the one adult who is feeding them, so food doesn’t arrive from all sides.
- If someone offers a taste of pie or stuffing, a simple “Not yet, but thank you” is enough.
- Bring a familiar food from home in case your baby isn’t interested. That’s normal on a busy, noisy day. Our tips for feeding your baby on the go can help if you’re traveling.
Related: how to baby proof a Christmas tree before the holidays.
Related: can babies have honey? Why honey-glazed dishes wait until 12 months.
Related: can babies have maple syrup at holiday meals?.
When to talk to your doctor
- Call 911 if your baby has trouble breathing, wheezing, or swelling of the lips, tongue or face after eating.
- Call 911 if your baby is choking and can’t cry, cough or breathe.
- Call your pediatrician if your baby gets hives, a new rash, or starts vomiting after eating a food.
- Talk to your pediatrician before offering peanut if your baby has severe eczema or an egg allergy.
- Call your pediatrician if vomiting or diarrhea doesn’t settle, or you notice signs of dehydration, such as fewer wet diapers.
- If your baby hasn’t started solids yet, ask your pediatrician when to begin. Our checklist of signs your baby is ready for solids can help you prepare for that visit.
Frequently asked questions
Can babies eat turkey at Thanksgiving?
Yes, if your baby has started solids. Offer plain turkey cooked to 165°F, pureed or shredded very finely and moistened so it’s easy to swallow. Skip the skin and any tough or large pieces.
Can my baby have mashed potatoes?
Yes, a plain portion is a good choice. Set some aside before adding salt, gravy, cheese or bacon.
Can babies have cranberry sauce?
It’s best to skip it. Cranberry sauce contains added sugar, and the CDC advises no added sugars for children under 2.
Can babies eat stuffing?
Usually not. Stuffing tends to be salty and can contain nuts, seeds or sausage, which are choking hazards. A little plain soft bread is an easier option for babies who eat finger foods.
Is a lick of pie or whipped cream a problem?
Desserts contain added sugar, which the CDC advises avoiding before age 2, and some pies contain honey or nuts. It’s simplest to give your baby their own plain food while everyone else has dessert.
My baby hasn’t started solids yet. Can they join in?
Absolutely. Breast milk or formula is all they need, and they can sit with the family in your lap or a high chair and enjoy the noise and faces. Save the tasting for another year.
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Sources
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit
- CDC: Choking Hazards
- CDC: Preventing Food Poisoning
- HealthyChildren.org (AAP): When Can Babies Start Solid Foods?
- MedlinePlus (NIH): Food Allergy
This article is for general information only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Ask your pediatrician if you have questions about feeding your baby, food allergies or your baby’s health.