Fruit Food Library
When can babies have breadfruit?
Can babies have breadfruit?
Babies can have breadfruit from about 6 months, cooked until soft. Breadfruit is starchy like a potato when it is mature and firm, and it is roasted, boiled or steamed before serving. Breadfruit is a good source of energy, fiber, potassium and vitamin C.
How to serve breadfruit by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Peel, core and boil or steam breadfruit until very soft, then mash or blend it with a little breast milk, formula or cooking water until smooth, like a loose mashed potato. Offer it on a spoon or a pre-loaded spoon your baby can hold.
7–8 months
Fork-mash cooked breadfruit more roughly so it has soft lumps, or mix it with mashed beans or flaked fish. You can also offer thick, finger-length wedges of cooked breadfruit that squash easily between your fingers for your baby to hold.
9–12 months
Serve small, soft cubes of cooked breadfruit for pincer-grasp practice, or mash it with a little butter or coconut milk.
12 months +
Toddlers can have roasted breadfruit wedges, breadfruit mash, or soft breadfruit fries baked in the oven. Avoid deep-fried chips that are hard, crunchy and salty.
Why it’s good
Breadfruit is a starchy fruit that gives babies energy from complex carbohydrates, along with fiber, potassium, vitamin C and some B vitamins. Breadfruit has a little more protein than many other starchy staples. Pairing breadfruit with beans, fish or meat adds protein and iron.
Safety notes
- Always cook mature breadfruit before serving. Raw starchy breadfruit is hard and not easy to digest.
- Remove the tough skin and the fibrous core before cooking.
- Cook until the flesh squashes easily between your thumb and finger, and avoid hard, crispy fried pieces for young babies.
- Fresh breadfruit releases a sticky white sap when cut. Rinse your hands and the fruit, and use an oiled knife to make cutting easier.
- Keep salt low when cooking breadfruit for babies, and go easy on butter and salty seasonings.
A low-allergy food, still worth watching
Breadfruit is not a common allergen and is not in the Top 9. Allergy to breadfruit is rare, but watch for hives, vomiting or swelling the first few times you offer it.
Breadfruit for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about breadfruit for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have breadfruit?
Babies can have breadfruit from about 6 months, cooked until soft. Breadfruit is a starchy, gentle food that mashes easily for new eaters.
Can babies have breadfruit?
Yes, babies can eat cooked breadfruit from 6 months. Breadfruit should be peeled, cored and boiled, steamed or roasted until it is very soft.
Is breadfruit a choking hazard for babies?
Breadfruit is a low choking risk when it is cooked until soft and served in wedges or mashed. Hard, crispy fried breadfruit is harder to manage and best saved for older toddlers.
Is breadfruit a common allergen?
Breadfruit is not a common allergen and is not one of the Top 9. As with any new food, watch for signs of a reaction the first few times.
How do I serve breadfruit to a 6 month old?
To serve breadfruit to a 6 month old, boil or steam peeled, cored breadfruit until very soft, then mash or blend it until smooth with a little breast milk or formula. Offer it on a spoon. Soft breadfruit wedges to hold can follow at 7–8 months.
How do I cook breadfruit for a baby?
To cook breadfruit for a baby, peel off the skin, remove the core, cut it into chunks and boil or steam for about 20 to 30 minutes until soft. Breadfruit can also be roasted whole and scooped out.
Can babies have ripe, soft breadfruit?
Babies can eat ripe breadfruit, which is softer and sweeter than mature firm breadfruit. Very ripe breadfruit is often cooked into puddings or mashed, which works well for babies when no sugar is added.
Is breadfruit like potato?
Mature breadfruit tastes and cooks a lot like potato, with a starchy, mild flavor. Breadfruit can be used in place of potato in mashes, wedges and stews for babies and toddlers.
The takeaway
- Babies can have breadfruit from about 6 months, cooked until soft.
- Peel, core and boil or steam breadfruit until very soft, then mash or blend it with a little breast milk, formula or cooking water until smooth, like a loose mashed potato.
- Choking risk is low. 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
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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.