Flavorful, nutritious, and easy to eat, pureed apples are a great option when introducing your baby to solid food, usually around 6 months. They're also the most common fruit that kids and teens eat, so they'll make a convenient snack once your child's old enough to eat raw apple slices.
Are apples healthy for babies?
Yes. Apples are rich in antioxidants, as well as vitamins A and C, which has been shown to be helpful for boosting immune function and collagen production – not just for babies, but for everyone.
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And apples are high in soluble fiber, which is good for digestive health as well as blood pressure and blood sugar regulation. This type of fiber also helps you feel full, which makes apples a satisfying snack.
Can babies be allergic to apples?
Apples are not considered a common allergen, but some people with pollen food allergy syndrome (also known as oral allergy syndrome) are also allergic to certain types of fruit – including apples. This mainly happens in older children and adults, though, and it's more likely to happen in areas where birch trees are prevalent.
Food allergy symptoms include hives, itchy skin rashes, swelling, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. If you notice any of these symptoms in your baby after eating food, let their doctor know. If your baby has symptoms that involve multiple parts of the body (such as hives with vomiting or diarrhea), it could be an anaphylactic reaction.
Other signs of an anaphylactic reaction are throat tightness, breathing problems, wheezing, lightheadedness, and loss of consciousness. If your baby shows signs of an anaphylactic reaction, call 911 or go to an emergency room immediately.
When introducing a potentially allergenic food, experts recommend giving it to your baby at home, rather than at daycare or a restaurant. Serve it for three to five days before offering another new food. That way you can monitor your baby for a reaction and know what's likely causing it.
How to serve apples to your baby
When your baby is first starting solids, raw apple will be too hard for them to chew, so it's best to feed them cooked apple puree (applesauce). Once they're eating finger foods, you can give them bite-size pieces of cooked apple (steamed or baked).
Applesauce is a great first food, but be sure to buy unsweetened applesauce or make it from scratch. Babies under 2 years old don't need added sugars in their diet. If you want to introduce your baby to new flavors, you can add spices like a small pinch of cinnamon or nutmeg to the applesauce.
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If you're trying baby-led weaning, you can cook apple slices to make them soft enough for your baby to eat.
Raw apples can be a choking hazard for babies. Experts recommend only offering pureed apples or applesauce until babies are 9 to 12 months old. After that, you can give your baby small piles of raw apple that's been shredded with a cheese grater. As your baby gets more teeth between 1 and 2 years old, they can have very thin slices of apple. You can give your baby thicker slices as they get older and more experienced at chewing.
And as for apple juice, it's not recommended for babies until they're at least a year old, and even then, don't give them more than half a cup per day. Too much juice can cause diarrhea and tooth decay, and fruit has fiber that you don't get when drinking it as juice. Also, the sweet flavor of juice can make young kids less likely to want healthier beverages like water and milk.
Try these recipes with apples for your baby:
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