Step 1: First tiny taste
Offer a small taste of soft mashed or pureed apple. Watch for concerning symptoms and get urgent help if breathing or swelling problems appear.
Apple
Overview
Apple is a typical complementary fruit around 6 months when your baby shows readiness for solids. Offer it as a single new food.
Preparation
Cook hard apples until they are soft enough to mash easily, then mash or puree for early textures. Remove seeds and the core. Do not offer raw hard apple chunks to young infants. Supervise every meal.
Three-step introduction
Step 2: Larger offer
If tolerated, offer a larger amount of the same prepared apple at a later feed.
Step 3: Include regularly
Keep soft apple in complementary meals as desired.
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 apples for a baby?
Cook hard fruits such as apples until they are soft enough to mash or puree easily. Remove seeds and the core. Serve textures that match your baby’s chewing and swallowing skills, and always supervise eating.
Sources
- WHO Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6–23 months of age (2023)
- CDC — When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods
- FAO/WHO — Risk assessment of food allergens: Part 1 (Codex priority allergen list)
- FDA — Food Allergies (major food allergens / Big 9)
- CDC — Infant and Toddler Nutrition FAQs