Applesauce

Category: Other
Recommended age: 6 months
Priority allergen: Not a priority allergen
Nutrition highlights: —

Overview

Applesauce is a typical complementary fruit puree around 6 months when your baby shows readiness for solids. Offer unsweetened applesauce as a single new food.

Preparation

Use unsweetened applesauce without added sugars. Offer a thin, spoonable amount. Homemade puree should be cooked until soft and mashed smooth. This is not a replacement for breast milk or infant formula. Always supervise eating.

Three-step introduction

Step 1: First tiny taste

Offer a small taste of unsweetened spoonable applesauce. Watch for concerning symptoms during and after the feed.

Step 2: Larger offer

If tolerated, offer more of the same preparation at a later feed.

Step 3: Include regularly

Serve this food regularly in age-safe textures.

FAQ

When are babies usually ready for solid foods?

Complementary foods are typically introduced around 6 months of age, when the baby shows developmental readiness (for example, sitting with support, good head control, and swallowing food rather than pushing it out). Introducing solids before 4 months is not recommended.

Do I need to introduce foods in a certain order?

For most children, there is no required order for first foods. Fruits, vegetables, meats and other proteins, and other food groups can all be part of complementary feeding around 6 months.

How should I prepare applesauce for a baby?

Use unsweetened applesauce without added sugars. Offer a thin, spoonable amount. If you make it at home, cook apple until soft and mash until smooth. Always supervise eating.

Can I give apple juice instead of applesauce?

Children younger than 12 months should not drink fruit or vegetable juice. Whole fruit or unsweetened fruit puree is a healthier option than juice. After 12 months, juice is still unnecessary; if offered, AAP recommends no more than 4 ounces a day of 100% juice for ages 1 through 3 years.

Sources

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