First foods database
🍋 Lime for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat lime? Yes, a squeeze of lime juice or a little zest is fine from about 6 months as a flavouring. It is very sour, so it works best mixed into other foods rather than served on its own.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Flavonoids
How to serve lime by age
6 to 9 months
Add a few drops of lime juice to mashed avocado, fish or vegetables. Offering a lime wedge to lick is fine if supervised, but most babies prefer it in food. A squeeze of lime over mashed avocado or banana also slows browning.
9 to 12 months
Use lime juice and finely grated zest in dips, curries and marinades. Lime juice helps tenderise chicken and fish in mild marinades.
12 months and up
Squeeze over fish, rice, fruit salads and tacos. Older toddlers often love the sour face game of tasting a lime wedge.
Choking safety
Pips are a choking hazard and should be removed. If you offer a wedge to suck, choose a large one and stay close.
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
- Citrus can sometimes cause redness around the mouth from the acid. This is usually irritation, not allergy.
Easy ideas
- Avocado mash with a squeeze of lime
- Lime and coriander rice
- Fish with lime and mild herbs
Goes well with
Recipes with lime
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat lime?
Can babies eat lime? Yes, a squeeze of lime juice or a little zest is fine from about 6 months as a flavouring. It is very sour, so it works best mixed into other foods rather than served on its own.
Can babies have lime juice?
Small amounts in food are fine. Lime juice as a drink is not needed and is very acidic.
Will lime cause a rash on my baby's face?
Acidic foods can redden the skin around the mouth temporarily. Wipe gently after meals. If the skin is broken or there is swelling, speak to your GP or health visitor.
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).