First foods database
🌴 Dates for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat dates? Yes, from about 6 months, when stoned and softened. Dates are naturally very sweet and sticky, so they are useful for sweetening baby bakes without added sugar.
Good source of: Fibre, Potassium, Magnesium
How to serve dates by age
6 to 9 months
Remove the stone, soak dates in warm water until soft, then blend into a paste to stir into porridge or spread thinly on toast. Avoid whole dates, which are sticky and chewy.
9 to 12 months
Chop soaked dates finely into bakes, oat bars and porridge, or blend into a sticky date paste to sweeten yoghurt.
12 months and up
Chopped dates as part of snacks and bakes. Dates are sticky, so offer water afterwards and brush teeth twice a day.
Choking safety
Whole dates are sticky and chewy, and stones are a choking hazard. Remove stones, soak and blend or chop finely for babies.
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
- Dried fruit sticks to teeth: best with meals, not as grazing snacks.
- Check for stones in pitted dates.
Easy ideas
- Date-sweetened porridge
- Date and banana muffins
- Date paste on toast fingers
Goes well with
Recipes with dates
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat dates?
Can babies eat dates? Yes, from about 6 months, when stoned and softened. Dates are naturally very sweet and sticky, so they are useful for sweetening baby bakes without added sugar.
Can I use dates instead of sugar in baby food?
Yes. Blended soaked dates add sweetness, but use small amounts as they are still sugary and sticky.
Are dates good for constipation?
Their fibre can help soften stools, alongside plenty of fluids.
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).