When can babies eat apples?

Find out when it’s safe to give your baby apples, plus get tips on introducing apples to your baby and the best weaning recipes to try.

The official advice on when babies can eat apples

According to the NHS, it's fine to give your baby apples from about six months old. However, make sure that you peel and cook the apples, and remove any pips, before giving them to your baby.

Current NHS guidelines suggest it’s best to wait until your baby is around six months old before starting weaning. This gives your baby’s digestive system a chance to fully develop and helps to ensure that they can sit up and swallow food well.

They add that “giving your baby a variety of foods, alongside breast or formula milk, from around six months of age will help set your child up for a lifetime of healthier eating.” For this reason, to begin with, your baby only needs a small amount of solid food, once a day.

If you feel your baby is ready for solid foods earlier, chat to your health visitor. 

How to prepare and introduce apples to your baby

Babies and tots tend to love munching on apples because of their sweet and juicy taste. However, since this crunchy fruit can be a choking hazard for little ones (more advice on this to come), it’s important they’re served safely. 

Apples need to be either steamed, puréed, or roasted until they have a mushy texture – you can also try serving them blended, mashed, or as soft finger food. 

Apple purée is a simple weaning recipe, which you can also replace with cooked courgettes, carrots, or broccoli when your baby is ready to try other veggies and flavours. Just peel the apples and cut into chunks, then cook in a little water until they're soft, and whizz up in a blender.

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The NHS says “to help your baby get used to different textures and tastes quickly, try moving on to mashed and finger foods (from purées or blended) as soon as they’re ready. This helps them learn how to chew, move solid food around their mouth and swallow solid foods.”

Plus, while babies take different amounts of time to get used to lumpy food textures, “it’s an important skill they need to learn.” So, “just keep offering them lumpy textures from around six to seven months and stay with them so you can be sure they are swallowing it safely.”

The NHS also explains that finger foods help children get used to different textures and they love picking up bits of food and feeding themselves, which is great for developing their hand-eye coordination. 

Stewed apples, for example, are super easy to make. Simply peel and chop a washed apple into finger-sized wedges and pop them in a small pan with water. Cover and cook over a medium heat for 8-10 minutes, or until the apples are tender when pierced with the tip of a knife (until the fruit has softened, but not collapsed). Your baby can then eat them right with their fingers.

Make sure, of course, that any cooked food has cooled right down before offering it to your baby.

Can babies have apple juice?

As for apple juice, experts say that it’s not suitable for babies under 12 months old who should be getting all of their nutrition from breast milk or formula, and then from solid foods.

Once your baby's one year old, you can give them up to one glass of diluted apple juice a day (ideally one part apple juice to 10 parts water). However, milk or water are still the best drinks for your baby.

The NHS recommends that you wait until your child is at least 5 years old before offering undiluted fruit juice of any kind. This is because fruit juice is high in sugar, which can damage your baby's emerging teeth.

Are apples a common choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Raw apple is one of the top choking hazards for children under three years old. Dried apple pieces are also a choking hazard for babies and children, so it’s important to be extra careful if you’re feeding these to your older child.

As mentioned earlier, to minimise choking risks, apples should be cooked until they have a mushy-like texture (core removed) or finely chopped into soft finger food.

You should also make sure you peel the apple first as the tough skin can stick in your child’s throat and cause them to choke. And be sure to remove any pips.

Leading first aid charity, St John Ambulance, advises parents not to let your child eat in the car, when walking, watching television, or doing anything else that might distract them from chewing and swallowing, or where you can't supervise your child.

What should I do if my child is choking?

If you think your child is choking, St John Ambulance advises the following techniques:

For babies:

1. Sit down and lay your baby face down along your thigh, taking care to support their head.
2. Give up to five sharp blows between their shoulder blades with the heel of your hand. Check their mouth to see if there's anything in there. If there is, pick the object out carefully with your fingertips if you can.
3. If they are still choking, lie them on their back on your lap and give up to five downward chest thrusts. Follow step by step instructions on the St John Ambulance website.
4. If your baby is still choking, call 999.

For children aged one and above:

1. Encourage them to cough it out.
2. Slap their back if the coughing doesn't work.
3. Help the child bend forward and use the heel of your hand to give up to five sharp back blows between their shoulder blades. Check their mouth to see if there’s anything in there. If there is, get them to pick it out themselves.
4. If they are still choking, perform abdominal thrusts - watch this St John Ambulance video for step by step instructions.
5. If your child is still choking, call 999 and repeat the back blows and abdominal thrusts for as long as needed.

St John Ambulance has also created a video to show parents exactly what to do if their child's choking.

Health benefits of apples

Apples are jam packed with lots of fibre, vitamin C and vitamin B6, as well as antioxidants to help your little one thrive.

Experts say they’re full of nutrients and vitamins that help to strengthen the immune system, promote healthy skin, and grow a healthy gut microbiome, making them a super nutritious choice. 

What’s more, apples contain minimal calories and they’re also full of carbohydrates which help provide babies with the energy they need.

Another great health benefit of apples is that they contain a soluble fibre called pectin, which can help control diarrhoea while promoting digestion and preventing constipation. 

So, perhaps the age-old proverb ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ isn’t too far from the truth after all.

Could my baby be allergic to apples?

It's possible, but not very likely. While fruit allergies are rare in childhood, according to the University of Manchester, apple allergies are a common form of pollen food syndrome and oral allergy syndrome. 

This means that apples contain proteins that are similar to birch pollen and pears. So if your baby is allergic to either of those things, they might have a reaction to apple, too.

Signs of allergies in babies

According to the NHS, allergic reactions usually happen quickly, within a few minutes of exposure to an allergen.

If your baby does have an allergy, you might notice some of the following symptoms:

• Sneezing
• A runny or blocked nose
• Red, itchy, watery eyes
• Wheezing and coughing
• A red, itchy rash
• Worsening of asthma or eczema symptoms

The University of Manchester adds that most apple allergic patients notice itching of the mouth and throat, and itching, redness and swelling of the lips within 5-15 minutes of eating the fruit, or even while chewing and swallowing it.

What should I do if I think my baby has an allergy?

If you think your baby may have an allergy, speak to your health visitor or GP, who may refer you to a registered dietitian. If the reaction is mild, don't cut important foods out of your baby's diet until you've received medical advice, as your baby could miss out on important nutrients.

However, if you think your child is suffering from a severe allergic reaction, seek urgent medical attention.

For peer-to-peer support, can chat about your child’s allergies and intolerances with other parents in the forum.

Apple recipes for babies 

• Apple purée for babies
• Weaning apple & pear rice
• Apple sauce made with eating apples
• Toddler pork & apple casserole
• Baked apple slices

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