No. 16 · Fruit Passport food
When can babies have apricots?
Can babies have apricots?
Babies can have apricots from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids. Start with very ripe or steamed apricot mashed smooth on a spoon, move to soft pitted halves at 7–8 months, and save dried apricots for later or soak and chop them finely first.
How to serve apricots by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Remove the pit from a very ripe apricot and mash the flesh until smooth, or steam firm apricot halves until soft and blend them. Offer the puree on a spoon on its own or stirred into yogurt or oatmeal.
7–8 months
Mash ripe or steamed apricot with a fork so it keeps soft lumps, or stir finely chopped apricot into oatmeal. Your baby can also hold a very ripe or steamed apricot half with the pit removed, as long as the flesh squashes easily between your thumb and finger.
9–12 months
Cut ripe or cooked apricot into small, soft pieces about the size of a chickpea for pincer practice. Peel the skin if your baby struggles with it. Dried apricots can be soaked in hot water until plump, then chopped very finely and mixed into food.
12 months +
Serve ripe apricot in bite-size pieces or thin slices. Dried apricots should still be cut into small pieces or thin strips, not offered whole, and are best served with a meal rather than as a sticky standalone snack.
Why it’s good
Apricots give babies beta-carotene, which the body turns into vitamin A for healthy eyes, skin and immunity, along with vitamin C, potassium and fiber. Dried apricots are more concentrated, with more fiber, potassium and a little plant iron per bite, but they are also more sugary and sticky. Apricots can help keep poop soft.
Safety notes
- Always remove the pit. The pit is a choking hazard, and apricot kernels inside the pit contain amygdalin, which can release cyanide. Never give apricot kernels to children.
- Firm or underripe apricot halves are slippery and hard, which raises choking risk. Use only very ripe fruit, or steam it until soft.
- Whole dried apricots are tough, sticky and a choking hazard. Soak them in hot water until plump and chop finely or blend.
- Many dried apricots are treated with sulfites to keep their orange color. Sulfites can trigger breathing problems in some people, so unsulfured (brown) dried apricots are a gentler choice.
- Choose canned apricots packed in water or juice, not syrup, and rinse them before serving.
A low-allergy food, still worth watching
Apricots are not a common allergen. Some children, especially those with birch pollen allergy, can get an itchy mouth or lips from raw stone fruits (oral allergy syndrome), and cooking the fruit often helps. Call your pediatrician if you see hives, swelling or vomiting.
Apricots for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about apricots for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have apricots?
Babies can have apricots from about 6 months, once they are ready for solids. Apricots should be very ripe or cooked until soft, with the pit removed.
Can babies have apricots?
Yes, babies can eat apricots from around 6 months. Start with ripe or steamed apricot mashed smooth on a spoon, offer soft pitted halves to hold from 7–8 months, and cut small pieces once your baby can pick up food with their fingers.
Are apricots a choking hazard for babies?
Apricots are a medium choking risk for babies. The pit, firm underripe flesh and whole dried apricots are the main hazards, so remove the pit, use very ripe or cooked fruit, and soak and chop dried apricots.
Are apricots a common allergen?
No, apricots are not one of the Top 9 common food allergens. A few children with pollen allergies get an itchy mouth from raw apricots, which is usually mild, but call your pediatrician about hives, swelling or vomiting.
How do I serve apricots to a 6 month old?
To serve apricots to a 6 month old, remove the pit from a very ripe apricot and mash the flesh smooth, or steam firm halves for a few minutes until soft and blend them. Offer it on a spoon. Soft apricot halves to hold can follow at 7–8 months.
Can babies have dried apricots?
Babies can eat dried apricots when they are soaked until soft and then finely chopped or blended into food. Whole dried apricots are sticky and chewy, which makes them a choking hazard for babies and young toddlers.
Do apricots help with baby constipation?
Apricots can help with baby constipation because they contain fiber and natural sorbitol, which draw water into the gut. Pureed fresh, canned or soaked dried apricots can be mixed into oatmeal or yogurt, and offering water with meals helps too.
Do babies need apricot skin removed?
Apricot skin does not need to be removed for most babies, since it is thin and softens on ripe fruit. If your baby gags on the skin or leaves it behind, peel it, or steam the apricot so the skin slips off.
Can babies have canned apricots?
Babies can eat canned apricots packed in water or 100% juice, rinsed and cut to the right size. Apricots canned in syrup are high in added sugar and are best avoided for babies under 2.
Are apricot kernels safe for children?
No, apricot kernels are not safe for children. Apricot kernels contain amygdalin, which the body can turn into cyanide, so always discard the pit and never give kernels or kernel products to babies or toddlers.
The takeaway
- Babies can have apricots from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids.
- Remove the pit from a very ripe apricot and mash the flesh until smooth, or steam firm apricot halves until soft and blend them.
- Choking risk is medium. Not a Top 9 allergen, but offer a small amount first and watch for any reaction.
Read next
Sources
This guide follows current advice from these organizations.
- Starting Solid Foods American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
- When, What, and How to Introduce Solid Foods Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Hazards Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Choking Prevention American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org)
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Updated November 2026. Reviewed by our dietitians. Based on AAP, CDC and NIAID guidance. Written for healthy, full-term babies; not a substitute for your pediatrician. If your baby was born early, has a medical condition, feeding difficulties or a known allergy, check with them first (medical disclaimer). Always stay with your baby while they eat.