Can Babies Eat Papaya?
Yes, and papaya is one of the easiest first foods going. From around 6 months you can serve it ripe, mashed or cut into soft strips. No cooking, barely any prep. Scoop the seeds, and you're basically done.
If you want a first food that makes you look like you have your act together with zero effort, papaya is it. A ripe one is soft enough to mash with a spoon. It is sweet without being sharp, and it is loaded with vitamin C. Below is when to start, how to serve it and one very lazy recipe.
What is a papaya?
Papaya is a soft tropical fruit with orange flesh and a scoop of black seeds in the middle. Ripe, it feels a bit like a very soft melon and tastes mild and sweet. You will find it grown across warm parts of the world, and it turns up fresh, in smoothies and dried.
Its softness makes papaya a natural teammate for other gentle foods. Mash it with banana, swirl it through a bowl of mango, or thin it with a little milk for the youngest eaters.
Papaya nutrition for babies
Papaya is low in calories but generous with vitamin C and vitamin A, and it brings a bit of fibre and folate along too.
| Nutrient | Per 100 g (raw) |
|---|---|
| Energy | 43 kcal |
| Carbohydrate | 11.0 g |
| of which sugars | 7.8 g |
| Fibre | 1.7 g |
| Protein | 0.5 g |
| Vitamin C | 61 mg |
| Folate | 37 mcg |
Typical values for raw papaya. Source: USDA FoodData Central.
When can babies eat papaya?
Papaya can go on the menu from around 6 months. The fruit barely changes as your baby grows, but the shape you serve it in does:
Mash ripe papaya smooth, or cut long strips a palm can wrap around. It is slippery, so a dusting of baby cereal helps with grip.
Once the pincer grip shows up, small bite-sized cubes are perfect finger food.
Serve it in chunks, blend it into smoothies, or stir it through yogurt. Guava works the same way. Still no need for added sugar.
Tip: a ripe papaya gives a little when you press it and smells sweet at the stem end. A rock hard, green one will be bland and stringy, so let it ripen on the counter for a few days first.
Health benefits of papaya for babies
Vitamin C
Papaya is rich in vitamin C, which supports the immune system and helps your baby absorb iron from other foods.
Vitamin A
It also carries vitamin A, which the body uses for healthy eyes, skin and steady growth.
Easy on tummies
Soft and gentle to digest, papaya is a kind choice for a new little gut finding its feet.
Because it is so mild, papaya softens the edges of sharper flavours. Try it stirred into oatmeal, or explore more first fruits on our fruits guide.
How to serve papaya safely
Do
- Use a ripe, soft papaya.
- Peel it and scoop out every seed.
- Mash or cut grippable strips for young babies.
- Serve it fresh.
Avoid
- Hard, under-ripe papaya, which is bland and stringy.
- Leaving the seeds in, since they are firm and peppery.
- Big slippery chunks for the youngest eaters.
- Any added sugar.
Risks and safety
Ripe papaya is soft and low on the choking scale, though a slippery strip can still be tricky to hold, so keep an eye on things, much as you would with lychee. A true allergy is uncommon, but play it safe and offer papaya on its own the first time before mixing it into anything.
New foods: introduce papaya by itself and wait a day or two before the next new food. For a solid overview of starting solids, the NHS weaning guide is a good read.
Easy papaya recipe (6 months)
Two minute papaya puree
Makes 2 baby portions, from 6 monthsIngredients
- 1/4 ripe papaya
- A squeeze of breast milk or formula (optional)
Method
- Peel the papaya, cut it open and scoop out all the black seeds.
- Mash the flesh with a fork, or blend it if you want it really smooth.
- Loosen it with a little milk if you like, then serve.
Papaya FAQ
When can babies eat papaya?
Papaya is a great early food from around 6 months. Ripe papaya is so soft you barely need to do anything to it, just scoop out the seeds and mash it or cut it into strips.
Is papaya good for babies?
Yes. It is soft, easy to digest and packed with vitamin C and vitamin A. The gentle sweetness goes down well with most babies, and it needs no cooking.
Do I need to cook papaya for my baby?
No. As long as it is ripe, papaya is soft enough to serve raw. Just peel it, scoop out the black seeds and mash or slice the flesh.
Can papaya cause an allergy?
A true papaya allergy is rare. As with any new food, offer it on its own the first time and keep an eye out for a reaction before mixing it with other things.
Sources
- Papaya, Wikipedia.
- FoodData Central, U.S. Department of Agriculture.
- Weaning and feeding, National Health Service (UK).
This article is general information, not medical advice. Every baby is different. Talk to your doctor, health visitor or paediatrician about your own baby, and about starting solids or any allergy concerns.
