Oranges are very nutritious for babies and a great fruit option during peak season when not many other fruits are available. You may be wondering if baby led weaners can eat oranges, and the answer is YES! Here's how to safely serve oranges to babies.

Oranges and other citrus fruits, including navel oranges, cara cara oranges, blood oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and pomelos, are delicious and nutritious. During peak season (winter here in the US) they offer much-needed brightness when most other food is rich, hearty, and heavy. Using a baby led weaning approach, parents offer foods they are already eating to baby. But that doesn't mean all foods are safe when unmodified. Oranges and other citrus fruits take a little more consideration before serving to baby. Let's learn how to safely serve citrus for baby led weaning!
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Can Babies Eat Oranges?
Absolutely YES babies can eat oranges. However, they must be prepared in a way that is safe for baby. When simply peeled and divided into sections with the membranes still intact, they can pose a choking hazard to babies, so parent must either remove the membranes or cut them into a safer shape.
Nutrients In Oranges
Oranges (as well as other citrus) are high in vitamin C, which is great for helping with iron absorption. They also have fiber, folate, and antioxidants, and are very hydrating! If you're serving grapefruit instead of oranges, they also have a good amount of vitamin A.
How To Serve Oranges For Baby Led Weaning
1. The Best Way To Prepare Oranges for BLW: Segmented or Supremed
Separating the segments of oranges or other citrus and completely removing the membranes, also called supreming, is my favorite way to prepare oranges for baby led weaning. It leaves the orange segments whole so that babies can grasp them easily, while also removing the hazard of the membrane. It's a little more work, but worth it for the most delicious experience for both adults and babies! Read more on how to supreme citrus fruit below.
2. Sliced With The Peel
Slicing oranges thinly into half-moon shapes with the peel on is another safe way to serve them to baby. Baby can pick them up and suck the juices out without the risk of choking on the membranes.
3. Sections With Top Membrane Removed
If you would rather peel the orange and separate into sections without all the knife work, you can use kitchen shears to cut the top part of the membrane off of each segment and remove it.
4. Segments Cut Into Small Pieces
Once baby has developed a pincer grasp (usually around 9 months old), you can cut oranges into very small pieces without having to remove any membranes. Kitchen shears can also be used to make this easier!
How To Segment (Supreme) Citrus Fruit
- Start by cutting away the very top and bottom ends of the fruit so that you have a flat surface to set on the cutting board.
- Cut away the peel, including any outer pith, from top to bottom, working all the way around.
- Hold you knife parallel to one of the white membranes and cut toward the center as close to the membrane as possible to get all of the fruit without cutting all the way through - just go to the center. Then repeat on the other side of the segment, and pop it out of the membrane.
- After the first piece is removed, it's easier to get the others out. You'll get out the remaining segments by cutting to the center on one side of the segment, then flipping the sharp edge of your knife under the pointy edge of the segment to gently push it away from the membrane on the other side. This always gives you the most fruit since it gets peeled away. (It helps if you have a sharp knife - this utility knife is my favorite for the job!)
- Make your way around the fruit until all of the segments are removed.
Top Tips For Serving Citrus To Babies
- If you're supreming citrus, doing one or two whole oranges at a time and store in a container in the refrigerator. This makes it easier to add pieces to baby's meal as needed, and to toss on salads or other meals for you!
- Practice makes perfect on the supreming method. Keep at it and you'll be a pro in no time!
- Kitchen shears can be helpful for the other methods, especially if you're not super confident in your knife skills.
- Once baby has the pincer grasp down, you can serve tiny pieces.
- When baby has teeth, you may want to stop offering oranges on the rind (so that he doesn't bite off a piece of it) until toddlerhood.
- Serve citrus fruit when you're giving a high-iron food to help increase absorption!
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Remember the safest way to serve anything to your baby is to ALWAYS have an adult present and attentive at mealtimes!
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