Cloves
Herb/Spice
Last updated July 5, 2026. The Tummi Food Team maintains this Can I Feed This safety guide guide. Supporting links appear in Sources when available.
Clinically reviewed by Andria Procopio and Arefa Mohamed
Direct answer
Can babies eat Cloves?
Yes. Around 6 months, once your baby is developmentally ready for complementary foods, you can mix a small amount of ground clove into food. Do not serve whole cloves, and do not give clove oil.
- Serve Age6+months
Most babies start solids around 6 months once they show readiness signs. Match the texture and serving size to your baby's skills.
- No Allergens
Cloves is not flagged as one of the major allergens tracked in this database. Still watch your baby closely when serving any new food.
- Choking Risk123451
Lower choking risk when served in the right texture. Always supervise meals and adjust the shape for your baby.
This guide is for everyday food prep questions. Ask your pediatrician about medical concerns, feeding delays, allergy plans, or serious reactions.
How Do You Serve Cloves?
How to serve Cloves to babies 6 months and older
- 1Use a very small pinch (about 1/16 teaspoon) of finely ground clove and mix it into soft foods like congee, mashed vegetables, tofu strips, or batter so the flavor is evenly distributed.
- 2Start with the tiniest amount and wait 3–5 days after each introduction to watch for any allergic reaction or digestive upset.
- 3Never serve whole cloves — remove them after cooking to eliminate choking risk, and do not use clove oil or concentrated extracts for babies and young children.
- 4If you’re unsure about amounts or your child has eczema, a family history of food allergy, or shows any reaction signs, consult your pediatrician before offering clove.
How to serve Cloves to babies 12 months and older
- 1Use ground clove sparingly in sauces, batters, and baked goods — start with a pinch and increase gradually to suit family taste.
- 2For clove-flavored, alcohol-free beverages, only offer small amounts in an open cup and make sure all whole cloves are removed before serving.
- 3Introduce spiced foods one at a time and supervise your child; wait several days after each new food and watch for reactions such as rash, swelling, vomiting, or breathing changes.
- 4Avoid giving whole cloves or concentrated clove oil (including extracts) because they can be a choking hazard or too strong; prefer small amounts of ground clove mixed into food.
Is Cloves a Common Allergen?
Cloves are not one of the common top allergens (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat/gluten, fish, shellfish, sesame) and are generally safe for most children when used in small amounts as a spice. However, cloves and other spices can cause contact dermatitis, oral allergy syndrome, or respiratory irritation in sensitive individuals. Concentrated clove oil may be irritating and should be avoided on infants or on broken skin. If a child has a history of spice sensitivity or unexplained reactions to seasonings, introduce cloves cautiously and consult an allergist if symptoms occur.
Is Cloves a Choking Hazard?
Very Low Choking Risk
Whole cloves are small, round, and very firm, which makes them a significant choking hazard for babies. When foods are flavored with cloves, stay within arm’s reach and keep baby seated upright while they eat so you can intervene quickly if needed. Caregivers should learn the signs of choking and know infant rescue maneuvers or have quick access to emergency help.
Have More Questions?
Ground clove can be mixed into food in small culinary amounts from around 6 months, once your baby is developmentally ready for complementary foods. Do not serve whole cloves, which are not an age-appropriate texture, and do not give clove oil.
Yes. From around 6 months, once your baby is developmentally ready for complementary foods, you can cook with a small amount of ground clove or use whole cloves for flavor and remove every whole clove before serving. Do not use clove oil in your baby's food.
No. Do not give a baby clove supplements or clove oil; concentrated clove oil can cause serious poisoning if swallowed. This is different from using a small amount of ground clove to flavor food.
Yes. Dried whole or ground cloves can be stored for later use; follow the package directions or USDA FoodKeeper guidance to maintain quality. Keep whole cloves and clove oil out of your baby's reach, and remove whole cloves from food before serving.
Yes. Ground cloves can be stored for later use; follow the package directions or USDA FoodKeeper guidance, including any instructions about freezing, to maintain quality. Keep the container out of your baby's reach.
Save Cloves to your food log
Track foods, reactions, and prep notes in Tummi when you want to keep your baby's feeding history in one place.
Sources
- Clove oil ingestion in an infant (Lane et al., 1991) doi.org
- Near fatal ingestion of oil of cloves (Hartnoll et al., 1993) doi.org
- LiverTox: Eugenol (Clove Oil) ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- U.S. Food & Drug Administration — Generally Recognized as Safe (GRAS) fda.gov
- Teething: Facts and Fiction (Markman, 2009) doi.org
- Clove (Syzygium aromaticum): a precious spice (Cortés-Rojas et al., 2014) doi.org
- Molecular Basis of the Therapeutical Potential of Clove (Vicidomini et al., 2021) doi.org
- Contact allergy to spices (van den Akker et al., 1990) doi.org
- Can Spices Cause an Allergic Reaction? (American Academy of Allergy Asthma & Immunology) aaaai.org
What Other Herb/Spice Can Babies Eat?
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Source-Linked Guidance
See the evidence behind the guide.
Food guides show direct links to public-health guidance and research when supporting references are available. Source inclusion does not imply endorsement.
Centers for Disease Control and PreventionDevelopmental milestones, nutrition guidelines, and allergen introduction timelines.
American Academy of PediatricsEvidence-based feeding recommendations from the leading pediatric authority.
National Institutes of HealthPeer-reviewed research on infant nutrition, allergies, and food safety.