11+ Apple Recipes For Babies, FAQs & Ultimate Feeding Guide
Wondering how to feed apples to babies? If so then you’re in the right place.
In this article, I’ll share with you more than 11 apple recipes for babies to help you in your baby-led weaning journey.
Since apples are a huge choking hazard when not cut properly, I’ll also share with you some frequently asked questions on feeding apples to babies.
I’ll also show in pictures how you should cut apples for babies based on their age.
The apple recipes for babies I share in this article aren’t just good for baby-led weaning. It’s also recipes that the whole family will love.
Let’s get started on all you need to know to feed apples to your baby.
When Can Babies Eat Apples?
Babies can eat apples as soon as they’re ready to start solids. This is usually around 6 months of age.
Apples should be cut in a safe way for your baby depending on their age.
Kids between 6-9 months can have cooked or grated raw apples. Kids between 9-12 months old can have thinly sliced raw apples.
Kids older than 12 months can begin to eat whole apples with some skin on.
Health Benefits of Apples for Babies
Apples are very healthy fruits to feed your baby. boost the immune system due to their vitamin C content. They contain antioxidants that help remove harmful free radicals from the body. They also contain fiber that help regulate gut health (source).
Are Apples Safe for Babies?
Apples are safe to feed babies as long as you cut them properly for your baby’s age. If you’re worried about them choking, you can cook the apples until it’s soft enough to pierce with a knife.
How To Cook Apples for Baby
You can cook apples for babies by boiling or steaming the whole thing. You can also cook them into pancakes, oatmeal, fritters, muffins, etc.
If you’re making your kids a snack, you can make apple smoothies, homemade popsicles, apple oatmeal cookies etc.
To cook apples for a baby by boiling, start by peeling and cutting a whole apple in half. Fill a pot with water. Boil the apples for about 5 minutes or until it’s soft enough to pierce with a fork. Remove from the heat and serve when cooled.
You can repeat the steps above for steaming an apple for your baby as well. Just use a steamer basket like this one from Amazon instead.
How to Serve Apples to Babies (6-12 months)
When can babies eat raw apples?
Babies can eat raw apples as early as 6 months old. To serve raw apples to babies between 6-9 months old, you can shred them with a cheese grater.
Use the smallest holes of the cheese grater to be safer. Serve the apples in a bowl so your baby can scoop them up with their hands to feed themselves.
You can also serve apples to 6-9 months old babies by boiling them until it’s soft. Just make sure to remove the seeds first and cut them into halves before serving.
Serving apples to 9-12 months old
You can serve raw apples to babies ages 9-12 months old by cutting them into very thin semi-circular slices. This will help babies practice biting and chewing as they get older.
Babies closer to 9 months old will most likely spit out the apple as they practice chewing. Toddlers closer to 12 months will be able to chew and swallow the sliced apples.
Serving apples to 12-18 months and beyond
Between the ages of 12-18 months, you can begin feeding apples to your babies by slicing them into thin slices.
When you’re comfortable, you can serve a whole apple to your baby after 2 years of age. Toddlers will be better at biting and chewing whole apples with skin on
FAQs About Apples for Babies
How do I introduce raw apples to my baby?
You can introduce raw apples to your baby by serving them grated apples. Use a cheese grater to grate raw apples as small as you can make it before serving. This will reduce the risk of choking.
Why should I cook apples for a baby?
You should cook apples for babies between 6-9 months old because it’s the safest way to serve them apples. Serving large chunks of apples to very young babies could increase their risk of choking.
Why can’t babies have raw apples?
Very young babies shouldn’t have raw apples because it increases their risk of choking. The only safe way to serve raw apples to young babies is to grate it first.
Is it better to give a baby raw or cooked apples?
It’s better to give a baby raw apples because cooking destroys some of the nutrients from the apple. If your baby isn’t old enough to eat large pieces of raw apples, then you can serve them raw apples that have been grated with a cheese grater.
How do I give my baby apples as finger food?
To give apples as finger foods to babies, you can bake them into apple muffins, apple pancakes, apple fritters, etc. Make sure you check out the recipes below to get more apple-finger food ideas.
Apple Recipes for Babies
