First foods database

🍎 Apple for babies: when and how to serve it

Can babies eat apple? Yes, from about 6 months, but raw apple is hard and one of the more common choking foods, so cook it soft or grate it finely for young babies.

From 6 monthsHigher choking risk: prepare carefully

Good source of: Vitamin C, Fibre, Potassium

How to serve apple by age

6 to 9 months

Peel, core and steam or stew apple until soft, then purée or mash; it loosens porridge and pairs with almost anything. For finger food, offer baked or steamed apple wedges soft enough to squash between finger and thumb. Finely grated raw apple stirred into yoghurt or oats is also fine.

9 to 12 months

Keep offering cooked soft wedges, grated apple in pancakes and muffins, and stewed apple with natural yoghurt. Very thin raw slices can work for some confident eaters, with close supervision.

12 months and up

From around 12 months many children manage thin raw slices or matchsticks. Wait on whole apples and chunky pieces until they bite and chew reliably.

Choking safety

Raw apple chunks are hard, round-edged and can lodge in the airway. Avoid raw chunks for babies: cook until soft, grate, or slice paper thin. Remove pips and core, and stay close while your child eats.

Gagging is common and noisy while babies learn to eat. Choking is usually silent. Always stay with your baby while they eat, sitting upright. How to help a choking baby (NHS).

Good to know

Apple juice is not needed; whole fruit is better. If given after 12 months, dilute 1 part juice to 10 parts water, with meals only.

Easy ideas

Stewed apple and cinnamon porridge
Baked apple wedges
Grated apple stirred into natural yoghurt

Goes well with

🥣OatsFrom 6 months · Gluten 🥣YoghurtFrom 6 months · Milk 🍂CinnamonFrom 6 months 🍐PearFrom 6 months

Recipes with apple

🧁Apple and carrot breakfast muffinsFrom 10 months · Breakfast · 35 min 🍎Apple and cinnamon baby porridgeFrom 6 months · Breakfast · 15 min 🍎Baked oat and apple porridge fingersFrom 6 months · Breakfast · 35 min 🫐Batch cook pear, apple and blueberry fruit cubesFrom 6 months · Breakfast · 22 min 🍎Beetroot and apple pink first puréeFrom 6 months · Snack · 45 min 🍏First wheat semolina with stewed appleFrom 6 months · Breakfast · 15 min

Weaning with OBubba

Log first foods in seconds. OBubba spots the allergens for you.

Track every food your baby has tried, see reactions over time, and let OBubba gently pace new allergens one at a time. Free to download.

Download for iPhone Get it on Android

Questions parents ask

Can babies eat apple?

Can babies eat apple? Yes, from about 6 months, but raw apple is hard and one of the more common choking foods, so cook it soft or grate it finely for young babies.

Can babies eat raw apple?

Grated or paper-thin slices yes; raw chunks no. Cook apple soft for young babies.

Should I peel apple for my baby?

Peeling helps for young babies as skin can be tough. As chewing improves, skin on is fine.

Sources

OBubba gives general information based on UK guidance. It is not medical advice and does not diagnose anything. Every baby is different. If your baby has a known allergy, severe eczema or a medical condition, speak to your doctor or health visitor before starting solids. Learn baby first aid, and in an emergency call your local emergency number (999 in the UK).