First foods database
🍒 Cherries for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat cherries? Yes, from about 6 months, once every stone and stalk is removed and the flesh is cut small or mashed. Sweet, juicy cherries bring vitamin C and a deep colour that many babies love.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Potassium, Fibre
How to serve cherries by age
6 to 9 months
Pull off the stalk and remove the stone with a cherry pitter or by cutting round it. Mash the flesh or blend into a purée to stir into porridge or yoghurt. For finger food, quarter pitted cherries lengthways or squash them flat.
9 to 12 months
Offer pitted cherries quartered lengthways to practise the pincer grip. Frozen pitted cherries cooked down for a few minutes make a soft compote for oats or toast fingers.
12 months and up
Keep removing stones and cut cherries in half or quarters until at least 5 years. Toddlers enjoy them with breakfast, in a fruit salad or baked into a simple oaty crumble.
Choking safety
Whole cherries are round and the right size to block a small airway, and the hard stone is a hazard of its own. Always pit and quarter lengthways (or flatten) for under-5s, check for stone fragments and sit with your child while they eat.
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
- Remove every stone and stalk; cherry stones should never be swallowed or chewed.
- Glacé and maraschino cherries are soaked in sugar syrup, so they are not for babies.
Easy ideas
- Cherry compote swirled through porridge
- Mashed cherries with plain full-fat yoghurt
- Quartered cherries with ricotta on toast fingers
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat cherries?
Can babies eat cherries? Yes, from about 6 months, once every stone and stalk is removed and the flesh is cut small or mashed. Sweet, juicy cherries bring vitamin C and a deep colour that many babies love.
Can babies eat whole cherries?
No. Pit them and cut into quarters lengthways, or squash them flat, until your child is at least 5.
Are glacé cherries OK for babies?
They are very high in added sugar and often contain colourings, so they are not suitable for babies. Fresh or frozen pitted cherries are the better choice.
Will cherries stain or change nappies?
It can turn poo darker red or purple for a day or so. This is normal. Use a bib, as the juice stains.
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).