First foods database
🥝 Kiwi for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat kiwi? Yes, from about 6 months. Kiwi is packed with vitamin C, which helps babies absorb iron from other foods. It occasionally causes allergic reactions, so start with a small amount and watch how your baby gets on.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Vitamin K, Fibre
How to serve kiwi by age
6 to 9 months
Choose a ripe kiwi that gives slightly when pressed. Peel it and mash the flesh, or stir it into yoghurt or porridge. For finger food, offer peeled halves or quarters cut lengthways, or roll slippery spears in ground oats for grip.
9 to 12 months
Serve small bite-sized pieces of peeled kiwi, or mix it with banana and strawberry for a fruit salad. Kiwi alongside iron-rich foods such as fortified cereal, beans or lentils helps iron absorption.
12 months and up
Offer kiwi slices, kiwi in fruit salads, or halved kiwi for toddlers to scoop with a spoon.
Choking safety
Ripe kiwi is soft and low risk. Avoid firm, unripe fruit. Cut it into lengthways quarters or small pieces rather than round slices that could block the airway.
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
- Kiwi can cause allergic reactions in some children. If you notice swelling, rash or vomiting, stop and speak to your GP.
Easy ideas
- Kiwi and banana mash
- Kiwi stirred through porridge
- Kiwi spears rolled in ground oats
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat kiwi?
Can babies eat kiwi? Yes, from about 6 months. Kiwi is packed with vitamin C, which helps babies absorb iron from other foods. It occasionally causes allergic reactions, so start with a small amount and watch how your baby gets on.
Is kiwi a common allergen?
Kiwi is not one of the 14 main UK allergens, but reactions do happen. Offer a small amount first, then build up. Speak to your GP if your baby has had reactions to other fruits or latex.
Can babies eat kiwi skin?
The fuzzy skin is tough and hairy, so peel it for babies. Older children can try golden kiwi skin, which is thinner, if they like it.
Why does kiwi make my baby's mouth red?
Kiwi is acidic, and acidic fruit can cause a mild red rash around the mouth where juice touches the skin. Wipe the face after eating. Swelling or hives is different and means you should seek advice.
Sources
- NHS Start for Life: Weaning
- NHS: What to feed young children
- NHS: How to stop a child from choking
- NHS: Food allergies in 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).