HeySolids
Choking risk
Avocado is a low choking risk - ripe flesh is soft enough for most babies to manage from the start.
Use only fully ripe avocado that squashes easily between your fingers, and always remove the pit. See how to serve for age-by-age prep.
Allergens
Avocado is not a common food allergen, so a true food allergy to it is rare.
Start with a small amount and watch for a reaction.
If baby refuses
Avocado has a mild, buttery flavor some babies need a few tries to warm to. Make sure it is fully ripe, since underripe avocado tastes bitter, and try mashing it into banana, sweet potato, or oatmeal.
How to serve
6+ months old
Large spear or smooth mash
Offer a large finger-length spear of ripe avocado for baby to grip and gnaw, or mash it smooth and serve on a pre-loaded spoon. If the spear is too slippery to hold, roll it in ground oat or infant cereal, or leave a strip of skin on the bottom as a handle.
How to prepare
Use only fully ripe avocado that squashes easily between your fingers, and mash it with a fork. A small squeeze of lemon juice keeps it from browning if you prep ahead.
9+ months old
Small cubes or spread
About 1/2 inch cubes
Cut ripe avocado into small cubes for pincer-grasp practice, or spread it thickly on a soft strip of toast. If the cubes are too slippery to pick up, roll them in ground oat or infant cereal for grip.
How to prepare
Keep using only fully ripe avocado that squashes easily between your fingers.
12+ months old
Slices, cubes, or spread
Bite-sized pieces, about 1/2 inch
Offer slices or cubes alongside a fork for utensil practice. Spread avocado on toast, stir it into rice or pasta, or serve it with eggs. A squeeze of lemon or lime, a pinch of cumin, or a little garlic powder all work well now.
How to prepare
Avocado can now be lightly seasoned and used more freely in family meals.
18+ months old
Half in skin
Serve half in its skin as a scooping bowl and hand over a spoon for utensil practice, or offer slices and cubes alongside a fork. Spread it on toast, stir it into rice or pasta, or serve it with eggs.
How to cook
No cooking needed. Avocado can now be lightly seasoned and used more freely in family meals.
Tips
- Check ripeness at the stem. Flick off the small stem cap. Green underneath means it's ready; brown means it's overripe inside. This beats squeezing, which bruises the fruit and tells you less.
- Ripen it faster in a paper bag. A firm avocado left in a closed paper bag with a banana or apple will soften in a day or two. Left on the counter alone it takes closer to a week.
- Slow the browning. Cut avocado turns brown quickly. Lemon or lime juice over the surface keeps it looking fresh, and storing the half with the pit still in slows it down too.