First foods database
🍐 Quince for babies: when and how to serve it
Can babies eat quince? Yes, from about 6 months once it is cooked. Raw quince is rock hard and very sour, but gently poached or baked it turns soft, rosy and fragrant, with a natural sweetness that needs no added sugar for babies.
Good source of: Vitamin C, Fibre, Copper
How to serve quince by age
6 to 9 months
Peel, core and cut the quince into chunks, then poach in water for 30 to 45 minutes (or longer) until very soft. Blend into a smooth purée on its own or mix with apple or pear. For finger food, offer long, soft-poached slices that mash easily when pressed.
9 to 12 months
Serve mashed or chopped poached quince stirred through porridge, plain full-fat yoghurt or rice pudding made without sugar, or with soft roast pork or lamb.
12 months and up
Offer baked quince halves, quince in crumbles with a little less sugar than usual, or chopped poached quince with breakfast cereal.
Choking safety
Raw quince is far too hard for babies and toddlers and should never be offered. Cook it until it is completely soft all the way through, and remove the hard core and all seeds.
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
- Quince paste (membrillo) and quince jam are very high in added sugar and are not suitable for babies.
- Quince seeds should be removed; do not offer them.
Easy ideas
- Poached quince and apple purée
- Quince swirled through porridge
- Baked quince with plain yoghurt
Goes well with
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Questions parents ask
Can babies eat quince?
Can babies eat quince? Yes, from about 6 months once it is cooked. Raw quince is rock hard and very sour, but gently poached or baked it turns soft, rosy and fragrant, with a natural sweetness that needs no added sugar for babies.
Can babies eat raw quince?
No. Raw quince is hard, astringent and a choking risk. It is only suitable cooked until soft.
Is quince paste OK for babies?
No, membrillo is mostly sugar. Save it for older children as an occasional treat with cheese, and make your own unsweetened poached quince for your baby.
Why does quince turn pink?
Long, slow cooking changes compounds in the fruit and turns the flesh from cream to rosy pink. It is perfectly normal and a sign it is nicely cooked.
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).