Apple

Apple can be offered around 6 months, once baby is ready for solids, as long as it is seeded and cooked soft. It grows in temperate regions and keeps longer than most fruit. Apple is a fruit native to Central Asia.

Apple brings carbohydrate and fiber along with plenty of water, potassium, antioxidants and vitamins C and B6. These support a baby's energy, digestion, hydration and iron absorption.

Cooking first

Remove the skin, core and seeds from apple halves. Boil them until a fork slides in easily, or soften them in the oven. You can hand over a cooked half to gnaw on, or mash it into a purée. Spices such as ginger or cardamom and a little fat can go into the purée.

Apple seeds can be toxic if many are swallowed. Always remove them.

Moving to raw apple

Raw apple comes in steps. Start with finely grated or very thin slices. Your baby may chew on the skin and then spit it out. Getting used to skin now pays off later with whole fruit. When a big bite happens, keep your fingers out of baby's mouth. Put a hand on the back and lean baby forward.

After 18 months, if the child chews well and is willing to stay seated, practice biting a whole apple. A bite from a whole apple leaves a flat piece. A bite from a wedge can leave a pointed piece, which raises the risk. Remove the stem and core first. Try quarters or wedges only after 24 months. The child should take sensible bites, chew well and sit calmly. Do not serve apple in a stroller or car seat.

Juice

A small amount of apple juice is fine after 12 months. Waiting until the second birthday before it becomes a regular drink is better. Frequent sweet drinks raise the risk of cavities and reduce appetite at meals.

Raw apple is hard, tough to chew and can turn slippery, all of which raise choking risk. Even grated, raw apple is treated as risky at 6 months. In the early months always cook it or make a purée. Offer thin raw slices after 12 months to a seated child under close watch. Do not give a small baby whole apple or thick raw chunks.

Apple is not a common allergen, though some reactions are reported. Pollen-food syndrome can make apple a trigger, mostly in people allergic to birch, alder and mugwort pollen. People sensitive to relatives such as apricot, almond and plum may react similarly. Typically it means a short spell of burning or itching in the mouth. A dangerous reaction is unlikely. Peeling and cooking the fruit may lessen the reaction.

Give a small amount at the first meal and watch your baby. If nothing happens, raise the portion slowly.