No. 65 · Fruit Passport food
When can babies have persimmons?
Can babies have persimmons?
Babies can have persimmons from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids, as long as the fruit is fully ripe and very soft. Firm or underripe persimmon is slippery, hard to chew and puckery, so it raises the choking risk. Peel the skin and remove any seeds before serving.
How to serve persimmons by age
Shapes and textures change as your baby’s grasp and chewing grow.
6 months
Choose a very ripe persimmon that squashes easily when pressed, peel it, remove any seeds, and mash or blend the flesh until smooth. A jelly-soft Hachiya can simply be scooped out and offered on a spoon or a preloaded spoon.
7–8 months
Mash ripe persimmon more roughly so it has soft lumps, or offer large peeled wedges or halves of very ripe, soft persimmon that your baby can hold in a fist. Ripe Hachiya mash can also be spread on a soft toast strip.
9–12 months
Cut ripe, peeled persimmon into small, soft pieces about the size of a chickpea for pincer-grasp practice. Mix pieces with yogurt or oatmeal if they are too slippery to pick up.
12 months +
Toddlers can eat thin slices or bite-size pieces of ripe persimmon, with or without the skin once they chew well. Keep firm Fuyu slices thin, and wait on dried persimmon until your child is a confident chewer.
Why it’s good
Persimmons give babies vitamin A for eyes and immunity, vitamin C, fiber, potassium and manganese, plus natural sweetness that makes them an easy fruit to love. Vitamin C helps babies absorb iron from plant foods, so persimmon pairs well with iron-rich meals.
Safety notes
- Only serve fully ripe persimmon. Underripe fruit is firm and slippery, and its astringent tannins can upset the tummy.
- Peel the skin for babies, since it is tough and can stick to the roof of the mouth, and remove any seeds or the hard core near the stem.
- Do not offer dried persimmon to babies. Dried fruit is chewy and sticky and is a choking hazard until a child chews well.
- Large amounts of unripe persimmon have been linked to digestive blockages in rare cases, so offer ripe fruit in normal portions.
- Wash persimmons before cutting, even if you will peel them.
A low-allergy food, still worth watching
Persimmon is not a common allergen, though rare allergies have been reported, sometimes in people with pollen or latex sensitivities. Watch for hives, itching around the mouth, vomiting or swelling the first few times you serve it.
Persimmons for babies: questions parents ask
Quick answers about persimmons for babies and toddlers.
When can babies have persimmons?
Babies can have persimmons from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids. The fruit must be very ripe and soft, peeled and seeded, to keep it easy to gum and lower the choking risk.
Can babies have persimmons?
Yes, babies can eat persimmons from 6 months. Ripe persimmon is sweet, soft and full of vitamin A and vitamin C, which makes it a lovely fruit to mash for babies and, from 7–8 months, to offer in large soft pieces in the fall and winter.
Are persimmons a choking hazard for babies?
Persimmons are a high choking risk for babies, mainly when the fruit is firm, underripe or cut into small slippery chunks. Serve very soft, ripe, peeled persimmon mashed at 6 months and in large pieces from 7–8 months, and always stay with your baby while they eat.
Are persimmons a common allergen?
No, persimmons are not a common allergen. Allergic reactions are rare but possible, so watch for hives, mouth itching, vomiting or swelling when you first offer persimmons.
How do I serve persimmons to a 6 month old?
To serve persimmons to a 6 month old, peel a very ripe persimmon, remove any seeds and mash or blend the flesh smooth, then offer it on a spoon or a preloaded spoon. The fruit should squash easily when you press it between your fingers. Large soft wedges to hold can follow at 7–8 months.
How can I tell if a persimmon is ripe enough for my baby?
A ripe persimmon for babies feels soft when pressed and has deep orange color with no green near the stem. Hachiya persimmons should feel like a water balloon and are only edible when jelly-soft, while Fuyu persimmons should give clearly when squeezed, not feel crisp like an apple.
Which is better for babies, Fuyu or Hachiya persimmons?
Both Fuyu and Hachiya persimmons are fine for babies when fully ripe. Very ripe Hachiya is softer and easier for young babies to mash, while Fuyu can stay firm and should be left to soften on the counter before serving.
Can babies have dried persimmon?
Dried persimmon is not recommended for babies because it is chewy, sticky and a choking hazard. Wait until your child chews well, often after 2 years, and then offer small, thin pieces while seated and supervised.
Can persimmons cause constipation in babies?
Ripe persimmons contain fiber that can help keep stools soft, but underripe persimmons are high in tannins that may firm stools or upset the tummy. Serve fully ripe persimmon, offer water with meals, and talk to your pediatrician if constipation continues.
The takeaway
- Babies can have persimmons from about 6 months, as soon as they are ready for solids, as long as the fruit is fully ripe and very soft.
- Choose a very ripe persimmon that squashes easily when pressed, peel it, remove any seeds, and mash or blend the flesh until smooth.
- Choking risk is high. 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.