Dates
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- high
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Fibrous fruit · pit out, serve soft
When can babies eat dates?
Dates can be offered from about 6 months, once baby is ready for solids.
Dates come from a palm that grows in North Africa and Southwest Asia. It has been a staple there for generations. Some types are eaten fresh. Others are dried to make them sweeter. Sweeteners such as date sugar and date syrup are made from it too.
Nutrition
Carbohydrate and fiber are plentiful in both fresh and dried dates. They hold potassium, folate, and vitamin B6, and plant compounds that may act as antioxidants. When dates dry they lose water, so the natural sugar becomes more concentrated. In a balanced diet, the natural sugar in fruit is not a concern.
How do you prepare dates for babies?
Take out the pit first. Soften dried dates in hot water, then mash, purée, or chop finely. They are high in fiber, so start with a small portion and increase as baby tolerates. Too much can cause gas and loose stools.
A fresh date can be served whole if it is very soft. It should squash when pressed lightly between your fingers. Cook firm and crunchy types, or save them for an older age.
Preparation by age
The same food is served differently at each age. What matters is how your baby sits, grasps and chews, more than the calendar.
6 months
6 months · How to prepare as a puréemash
Take the pit out of dried dates. Let the fruit sit in hot water about a quarter of an hour, until fully soft. Then chop finely, mash, or purée. Serve it plain, or mix it into oatmeal or yogurt. It is high in fiber, so start with a small amount. It may cause gas or loose stools.
12 months
12 months · How to servecube
Cut soaked dried dates into small pieces, purée them, or mix them into soft foods. Offer fresh dates in small bites only if they are very soft. If a date does not squash easily between thumb and finger, cook it or save it for later.
12 months · Whole date after 18 monthsslice
After about 18 months, toddlers with molars can bite and chew a whole large dried date. Remove the pit. First show how to bite with the front teeth and move it to the back teeth to chew. For the first try, hold the date and do not let go until your child bites. Serve one or two at a time. If your child does not bite, wait a few weeks. Do not split it into small pieces.
Is dates a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: high
Dried dates are sticky and hard to chew, and firm fresh types are risky too. Always remove the pit and soak dried dates until soft.
Dates carry a choking risk. Some fresh types are firm or crunchy. Dried dates are sticky and hard to chew. The pit is hard and inedible, and it can block the airway if left in.
Remove the pit. Prepare the fruit for your child's age. Stay near baby during meals.
The pit
Feel each date with your fingers to be sure no pit remains before you serve it.
Is dates a common allergen?
Dates are not a common allergen. Serious reactions have still been reported. People with pollen allergy or oral allergy syndrome may react to dates.
For the first try, give only a tiny amount and keep your eyes on baby. When nothing happens, raise the portion slowly over the following meals.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about dates
Can dates cause gas or loose stools?
They are high in fiber, so large servings can cause gas and loose stools. Start with a small amount.
Is the sugar in dried dates a problem?
Drying concentrates the natural sugar. In a balanced diet, fruit sugar is not a concern. Keep portions small anyway.
When can I give a whole date?
After about 18 months, once molars are in and your child chews well, you can offer one or two pitted whole dates.
Sources for this page
- AlFaris NA, AlTamimi JZ, AlGhamdi FA, Albaridi NA, Alzaheb RA, Aljabryn DH, et al. (2021). Total phenolic content in ripe date fruits (Phoenix dactylifera L.): A systematic review and meta-analysis. Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. doi:10.1016/j.sjbs.2021.03.033
Guides on iron, allergen introduction, gagging and drinks. Read the starting solids guides
Medical note
This page is for information only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Talk to your pediatrician before any feeding decision, especially about allergen introduction and reactions.
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com