First foods database
🍈 Melon for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat melon? Yes, from about 6 months. Ripe melon is juicy, refreshing and soft enough to gum, ideal on a warm day or for sore teething gums. Varieties such as honeydew and galia bring vitamin C and plenty of water.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Vitamin A, Potassium, Water
How to serve melon by age
6 to 9 months
Wash the outside, remove the seeds and rind, and offer long finger-length strips of very ripe melon to hold. Mash or blend soft melon for spoon feeding, or mix with yoghurt.
9 to 12 months
Cut into small bite-sized pieces once your baby picks up food with thumb and finger.
12 months and up
Serve in pieces, in fruit salads, or as melon balls cut in half. Chilled melon is a nice snack after outdoor play.
Choking safety
Underripe melon is firm and can break into hard chunks. Serve only ripe, soft melon in thin strips, remove all seeds and rind, and cut melon balls in half.
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
- Wash the rind before cutting, and keep cut melon in the fridge.
Easy ideas
- Melon strips with yoghurt dip
- Melon and mint fruit salad
- Melon with cottage cheese
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat melon?
Can babies eat melon? Yes, from about 6 months. Ripe melon is juicy, refreshing and soft enough to gum, ideal on a warm day or for sore teething gums. Varieties such as honeydew and galia bring vitamin C and plenty of water.
Can babies eat melon rind?
No. Remove the rind and the pale firm layer just under it, as both are hard and a choking risk. Offer only the soft, ripe flesh.
Can melon help teething babies?
Chilled ripe melon strips can feel soothing on sore gums and are easy to gnaw. Always stay with your baby while they eat.
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).