FirstNom
Fruit
Apricot for babies
Fresh apricot is a soft summer fruit; dried apricot is a small iron source and a reliable constipation remedy. Both need attention to shape.
When can babies have apricot?
From around 6 months, fresh and stoned, or dried and stewed or finely chopped.
How do you serve apricot to a baby?
The shape is what makes a food safe, and it changes as your baby’s grip and chewing change. Find your baby’s age band.
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6–8 months
Fresh: peel, stone and cut into wedges, cooking firm ones first. Dried: stew in water until soft and purée, or chop very finely into porridge.
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9–11 months
Small pieces of fresh apricot; finely chopped stewed dried apricot.
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12–18 months
Fresh wedges; dried apricot chopped small, never whole.
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24 months+
Whole dried apricots from around 4 years.
Prep tip
Stewed dried apricot purée keeps a week in the fridge and is the fastest thing to reach for when a baby is struggling with constipation.
Storage
Fresh apricots ripen on the counter then keep three days refrigerated. Dried apricots keep months in a sealed jar.
Is apricot a choking hazard for babies?
Fresh ripe apricot is soft; firm apricot should be cooked. The stone must always be removed. Dried apricots are chewy and sticky and are a genuine choking risk whole — chop them finely or stew them until soft for children under about 4 years.
Whatever you serve, stay within arm’s reach, keep your baby upright in a supportive seat, and never let them eat in a moving car, buggy or carrier. Gagging is loud and normal. Choking is silent.
Is apricot a common allergen?
Apricot is not a common allergen. Sulphite-treated dried apricots — the bright orange ones — can trigger wheezing in children with asthma. Unsulphured versions are darker and are the safer buy.
Is apricot healthy for babies?
Fresh apricot brings vitamin A and C. Dried apricot is the more nutritionally interesting version — it concentrates iron, potassium and fibre, and it is one of the traditional remedies for a constipated baby. Buy unsulphured dried apricots where you can; they are brown rather than orange.
| Vitamin A | High |
|---|---|
| Vitamin C | Good source |
| Potassium | High |
| Iron (dried) | Good source |
| Fibre | High |
| Iron per serving | ~0.7 mg |
Common questions about apricot
Are dried apricots safe for babies?
Not whole — they are chewy, sticky and exactly the wrong size. Stew them soft or chop them very finely. From around 4 years whole ones are reasonable.
Why are some dried apricots bright orange?
Sulphur dioxide, used to preserve colour. It is a recognised trigger for wheezing in some asthmatic children. Unsulphured apricots are brown and taste more intense.
Reference material
Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.
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