First foods database
🍅 Cherry tomato for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat cherry tomatoes? Yes, from about 6 months, but always cut them lengthways into quarters. Their sweet, juicy flavour is popular with babies, yet their small round shape makes whole cherry tomatoes a choking hazard for young children.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Lycopene, Potassium, Vitamin A
How to serve cherry tomato by age
6 to 9 months
Quarter lengthways and offer the soft pieces, or roast until they collapse and mash into pasta or couscous. Squashing each quarter slightly helps young babies.
9 to 12 months
Keep quartering lengthways. Halved and roasted cherry tomatoes on soft toast or mixed into eggs are good pincer practice.
12 months and up
Continue cutting into quarters until at least 5 years old. Serve raw in salads or roasted in pasta sauces.
Choking safety
Never offer whole cherry tomatoes to babies or young children. Cut them lengthways into quarters every time, and supervise eating. The skin can make some babies gag, which is normal.
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
- Always cut lengthways into quarters for under-5s.
- Wash before serving and remove any green stalks.
Easy ideas
- Roasted cherry tomato pasta
- Quartered cherry tomatoes with mozzarella
- Cherry tomatoes squashed into scrambled egg
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat cherry tomato?
Can babies eat cherry tomatoes? Yes, from about 6 months, but always cut them lengthways into quarters. Their sweet, juicy flavour is popular with babies, yet their small round shape makes whole cherry tomatoes a choking hazard for young children.
How do I cut cherry tomatoes for a baby?
Cut them lengthways into quarters. This removes the round shape that can block a small airway.
Are tomatoes too acidic for babies?
Most babies manage them well. Some get a mild red rash around the mouth from the acid, which usually fades quickly.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- NHS: What to feed young children
- NHS: How to stop a child from choking
- NHS: Foods to avoid giving babies and young children
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).