Learn how to safely serve apples to babies from 6 months on with this guide to apples for baby led weaning, including how to cook apples for babies, how to cut apples for babies, when babies can have raw apple, and baby friendly apple recipes.
This post has been written and medically reviewed by Kaleigh McMordie, MCN, RDN (Registered Dietitian Nutritionist).
Apples for Babies
Apples are a great first food for babies - they are nutritious, tasty and affordable. But raw apple is one of the biggest choking risks for little ones, so it must be served the right way. Luckily apples are easy to transform into baby-safe finger foods. I'll show you exactly how to prepare and serve apples for baby led weaning babies and those in the finger food stage.
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When Can Babies Have Apples?
Babies can have apples as soon as they are developmentally ready for solids, usually around 6 months of age. BUT no raw apples before 9 months, please! Pieces of raw apple are one of the leading choking risks for babies and toddlers. Apples can be served to babies cooked to a soft texture, or in other safe ways.
Health Benefits of Apples for Babies
Apples are full of water and fiber, which is great for babies' digestion. They contain the soluble fiber pectin, which could help improve the gut health of your little one.1 Apples are also a good source of vitamin C, which can help babies absorb iron from plant foods, as well as antioxidants. Because apples are naturally sweet, they are a great way to sweeten foods without sugar.
How To Serve Apples for Baby Led Weaning by Age
BLW Apples for 6 + months
In order for apples to be safe for baby at 6 months, they must be cooked until very soft! (Read more about appropriate texture for baby led weaning.) At this age, bigger pieces are better, because babies don't yet have the fine motor skill to pick up small pieces and will use their whole fist to grip foods (called a palmar grasp).
Applesauce (Apple Puree): Serve store bought or homemade applesauce to baby on a on a pre-loaded soft spoon, or in a bowl and let them get messy with hands! You can also mash cooked apples into a chunky puree texture.
Cooked Halves: Cook halved, cored apples (I like to bake them) and offer baby the entire half. You can leave the peel on or take it off, as baby will suck the soft flesh out and discard the skin.
Cooked Slices: Cut soft cooked apple into slices about the width/thickness of your finger. You can leave the skin on or remove it. The skin help baby grip the apple better, but if it causes gagging or your baby struggles with it, feel free to remove it.
BLW Apples for 9+ months
Once your little one has a pincer grasp, starting to pick up small pieces between the index finger and thumb, you can start to offer smaller pieces. You can also start to introduce raw apple in an appropriate shape at this stage. You may also continue to offer cooked slices.
Cooked Bite Size Pieces: Cut soft cooked apple into small pieces about the size of your fingernail. Avoid a perfect cube shape. Baby can practice using the pincer grasp to pick them up, or you can offer a small fork for utensil practice. Leave the peel on, or remove it.
Raw Grated Apple: Start to introduce raw apple by grating it into very small pieces. Baby can scoop these up with his hands or a spoon. Grated apple is also great for adding to recipes, such as pancakes or oatmeal.
Raw Matchsticks: Once your baby really has the pincer grasp down, you can offer raw apple cut into matchsticks.
BLW Apples for 12+ months
Raw slices, super thin: At 12 months, you can continue offering apples in any form listed above, and you can start to introduce raw apple slices. Make sure slices are cut very thin for this age. I'm talking paper thin. A mandoline can be helpful for slicing.
How To Prepare Apples for Babies
Remember to cook apples until they are very soft - you should be able to easily mash them between your index finger and thumb. Here are some of my favorite cooking methods for apples.
Baked Apples: Bake halves at 375°F until very soft, about 30 minutes. Here's the full recipe for Baked Apples for Baby.
Steamed Apples: To steam apples, place apple halves or slices in a steamer basket in a pot of water. (The water should not be touching the basket.) Bring the water to a simmer and cook, covered, over medium-low heat until apples are tender, about 20-30 minutes. After cooking you can cut the apple into the appropriate shape.
Sautéd Apples: I love sautéing apples on the stove for babies! Cut apples into ½ inch slices and cook in a touch of oil or butter in a skillet over medium-low heat until nice and soft, about 8 minutes. Add a splash of water as needed to keep them from sticking or browning. Here is my favorite recipe for Cinnamon Sautéd Apples for Baby.
Applesauce: Use any of the cooking methods above and add the apples, without the skin, to a blender or food processor and blend until you get the consistency you'd like. Or use this easy recipe for Homemade Applesauce!
Baby Apple Recipes
- Baked Apples for Baby
- Cinnamon Sautéd Apples for Baby
- Apple Oat Pancakes for Baby and Toddler
- No Sugar Baked Apple Oatmeal
- Baby Carrot Apple Breakfast Cookies
- ABC Oatmeal Breakfast Cookies for Baby
- Homemade Baby Applesauce (No Sugar)
- Applesauce Overnight Oats for Baby
Track your baby's journey through starting solids! Get my 100 First Foods Checklist and Allergen Checklist Bundle today!
FAQ
Yes. Raw pieces of apple are a top choking hazard for babies and toddlers. It is important for apples to be served in a safe way for babies, regardless of feeding method.
No, apples are not a common allergen. Rarely, they may cause a minor skin reaction where the raw apple comes into contact with the skin (called oral allergy syndrome).
If you feel comfortable at 9 months, you can start offering raw apple in the form of grated apple or super-thin matchsticks. Be sure to monitor how your child handles them. You can progress to paper-thin slices around 12 months.
Around 18-24 months, you can give your child whole raw apple to try. This is safer than thick apple slices since your child can use his teeth to scrape off smaller bites than if he were to bite into thick slices. Always supervise your child with any food and make sure he is sitting down while eating. Intervene as needed if your child struggles with raw apple.
Thick slices of apples can be offered in accordance with your child's eating skills, but it may be around 3-4 years of age before slices of apple are appropriate.
I don't recommend giving fruit juice to babies under 12 months. Read more about juice for babies here.
Archana says
Why we shouldn’t give freshly prepared fruit juices under 1year old babies?
Could you explain it?
Kaleigh says
Under 1 year, the only drinks babies should have are breastmilk/formula or water, with water given mainly at mealtime. Because their bellies are so tiny, we want them getting the most nutrient dense foods possible, which would be breastmilk or formula at this point. Juice is high in sugar and can push out other more nutritious foods.