No. 18 · Fruit Passport food
When can babies have figs?
Can babies eat figs?
Babies can have figs from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids. Start with ripe fresh fig mashed smooth on a spoon, offer soft quarters from 7–8 months, and always soak dried figs and finely chop or blend them, since they are chewy and sticky.
How to serve figs by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Remove the stem from a very ripe fresh fig and mash the soft flesh until smooth, or blend soaked dried figs into a smooth paste. Offer it on a spoon, on its own or stirred into yogurt or oatmeal.
7–8 months
Mash ripe fig more roughly so it keeps soft lumps, or stir finely chopped soaked dried fig into oatmeal. Your baby can also hold a quarter of a very ripe fresh fig, cut from top to bottom, as long as it squashes easily between your thumb and finger.
9–12 months
Cut ripe fig into small, soft pieces about the size of a chickpea for pincer practice. Soaked dried figs can be chopped very finely and stirred into oatmeal, yogurt or baked goods.
12 months +
Serve fresh figs in bite-size pieces or slices, or spread blended fig on toast. Dried figs should still be cut into small pieces until your child chews well, and offered with meals rather than as a sticky snack on their own.
Why it’s good
Figs give babies fiber, potassium, some calcium and magnesium, and natural sweetness. Dried figs are especially high in fiber and calcium for a fruit, and they offer a little plant iron. Their fiber and natural sugars can help keep a baby's poop soft.
Safety notes
- Use only ripe, soft fresh figs. Firm, underripe figs are rubbery and harder to break down, which raises choking risk.
- Whole dried figs are thick, chewy and sticky, and can stick to the roof of the mouth. Soak them in hot water until soft, then chop finely or blend.
- Remove the tough stem before serving. The fig skin is edible, but peel it if your baby gags on it.
- Fresh figs and the milky sap in fig stems and leaves can irritate sensitive skin around the mouth. Wipe baby's face after eating.
- Skip fig bars, fig cookies and fig jam for babies under 2, which usually have added sugar.
A low-allergy food, still worth watching
Figs are not a common allergen. Fig allergy is rare but has been linked to latex allergy and to allergy to weeping fig houseplants and birch pollen, so watch for an itchy mouth, hives or swelling and call your pediatrician if you see them.
Figs for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about figs for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have figs?
Babies can have figs from about 6 months, once they are ready for solids. Fresh figs should be very ripe and soft, and dried figs should be soaked and finely chopped or blended.
Can babies eat figs?
Yes, babies can eat figs from around 6 months. Start with ripe fresh fig mashed smooth and offered on a spoon, alone or in yogurt or oatmeal, then offer soft fig quarters to hold from 7–8 months.
Are figs a choking hazard for babies?
Figs are a medium choking risk for babies. Ripe fresh figs are soft and lower risk, but underripe figs and whole dried figs are chewy and sticky, so soak, chop or blend dried figs and always stay with your baby.
Are figs a common allergen?
No, figs are not one of the Top 9 common food allergens. Fig allergy is rare, but it is more likely in people with latex or birch pollen allergy, so watch for itching, hives or swelling.
How do I serve figs to a 6 month old?
To serve figs to a 6 month old, choose a very ripe fresh fig, trim the stem, and mash the soft flesh until smooth. Offer it on a spoon or a pre-loaded spoon. Soft fig quarters to hold can follow at 7–8 months.
Can babies eat dried figs?
Babies can eat dried figs once they are soaked in hot water until soft, then chopped very finely or blended into a paste. Whole dried figs are chewy and sticky and are a choking hazard for babies and young toddlers.
Do figs help with baby constipation?
Figs can help with baby constipation because they are high in fiber and natural sugars that soften poop. A spoonful of mashed fresh fig or blended soaked dried fig in oatmeal, along with water in a cup, often helps.
Can babies eat fig skin and seeds?
Babies can eat fig skin and the tiny fig seeds. Fig seeds are very small and soft and are not a choking risk, and the skin is thin on a ripe fig, though you can peel it if your baby finds it hard to manage.
How do I know when a fig is ripe for my baby?
A fig is ripe for a baby when it feels soft and slightly squishy, the stem bends, and the skin may have small cracks. Figs do not ripen much after picking, so firm figs should be cooked or poached until soft.
Can toddlers eat fig bars?
Toddlers over 2 can have fig bars occasionally, but they usually contain added sugar and refined flour. Homemade options made with blended dried figs and oats, or plain fresh figs, are a better everyday choice.
The takeaway
- Babies can have figs from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids.
- Remove the stem from a very ripe fresh fig and mash the soft flesh until smooth, or blend soaked dried figs into a smooth paste.
- 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)
- Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025 U.S. Department of Agriculture and HHS
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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.