FirstNom
Fruit
Papaya for babies
Ripe papaya is soft enough to scoop with a spoon and mild enough that almost every baby takes it. It is also mildly laxative, which is often useful.
When can babies have papaya?
From around 6 months, ripe, deseeded and peeled.
How do you serve papaya 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.
-
6–8 months
Peel a ripe papaya, scoop out the seeds, and cut into finger-width spears. Or mash it — it needs no cooking at all.
-
9–11 months
Bite-sized pieces for the pincer grasp.
-
12–18 months
Cubes, or scooped from the half with a spoon.
-
18–24 months
Chunks, in smoothies, or with a squeeze of lime. Family portions.
Prep tip
A ripe papaya gives all over and smells sweet at the stem. Firm green ones will ripen on the counter in two to four days.
Storage
Refrigerate once ripe and use within three days. Cut papaya keeps two days sealed.
Is papaya a choking hazard for babies?
Ripe papaya is very soft and low risk. Firm papaya is dense and should be left to ripen. Remove all the black seeds — they are peppery and unnecessary — and the skin.
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 papaya a common allergen?
Papaya is not a common allergen, though papain can occasionally cause contact irritation and papaya has some cross-reactivity with latex allergy.
Is papaya healthy for babies?
Papaya is very high in both vitamin C and vitamin A, and its papain enzyme aids protein digestion. Its fibre and water content make it gently laxative, which many parents find useful in the first weeks of solids.
| Vitamin C | Very high |
|---|---|
| Vitamin A | Very high |
| Folate | Good source |
| Papain | Present |
| Fibre | Good source |
| Iron per serving | ~0.2 mg |
Common questions about papaya
Will papaya loosen my baby's stools?
It can, mildly, which is often welcome after solids start. If it goes too far, reduce the portion rather than dropping it.
Can babies eat papaya seeds?
Better not. They are peppery, unpleasant and small enough to be inhaled. Scoop them all out.
Reference material
Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.
Foods parents look at next
Fruit
Mango
Sweet, soft and packed with vitamin C — serve it with an iron food and it earns its place twice.
Fruit
Cantaloupe
High in vitamin A, soft when ripe — and worth washing the rind before you cut it.
Fruit
Banana
No cooking, no equipment, comes in its own wrapper — and slippery enough to need a trick.
Fruit
Pineapple
Very high in vitamin C, and acidic enough to redden most babies' chins.