FirstNom
Fruit
Raspberry for babies
Raspberries are the exception among berries: soft, hollow and they collapse under pressure, so they do not need cutting the way blueberries and grapes do.
When can babies have raspberry?
From around 6 months, whole. Raspberries are one of the highest-fibre fruits and a genuinely easy self-feeding food.
How do you serve raspberry 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
Whole, or mashed into yogurt or porridge. Squash very firm ones.
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9–11 months
Whole, for pincer practice.
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12–18 months
Whole, in yogurt, or mashed onto toast.
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18–24 months
Whole. Family portions.
Prep tip
Frozen raspberries thawed and mashed make an instant fruit purée with no cooking and no added sugar.
Storage
Highly perishable — use within two days and do not wash until serving. Frozen raspberries are excellent and cheaper.
Is raspberry a choking hazard for babies?
Raspberries are hollow and squash easily, which makes them low risk whole. Very large or firm ones can be halved. They fall apart in a baby's hand, which is messy rather than dangerous.
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 raspberry a common allergen?
Raspberry is not one of the nine most common food allergens. Any food can trigger a reaction, though, so offer it on its own the first time and watch for hives, vomiting, swelling or a change in breathing over the next two hours.
Is raspberry healthy for babies?
Raspberries carry more fibre per serving than almost any other fruit, plus high vitamin C. They are excellent pincer-grasp practice, and their softness means you can offer them whole from the beginning.
| Fibre | Very high |
|---|---|
| Vitamin C | High |
| Manganese | High |
| Polyphenols | High |
| Iron per serving | ~0.3 mg |
Common questions about raspberry
Do raspberries need cutting?
Not usually. They are hollow and collapse under pressure, unlike blueberries. Halve unusually large or firm ones.
Will the seeds bother my baby?
No. Raspberry seeds are small and pass through. They may be visible in the nappy, which is normal.
Reference material
Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.
Foods parents look at next
Fruit
Blueberries
Squash them. A whole blueberry is exactly the shape that causes trouble.
Fruit
Blackberry
Soft, high in fibre and it stains everything it touches.
Fruit
Strawberry
More vitamin C than an orange, and a shape that needs quartering until about four.
Dairy & eggs
Yogurt
Plain whole-milk yogurt is fine from 6 months — long before cow's milk as a drink.