Lychee

You can offer lychee once baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months. The seed holds toxic compounds. Always remove it.

Lychee grows in southeastern China. It is also called Chinese cherry or litchi. The trees are tall and evergreen. Across China and East Asia people mostly eat the fruit fresh. The harvest season is short. Traditional Chinese medicine sees it as a hot food, best eaten in small amounts on hot days.

Ripe lychee has carbohydrate, fiber, fluid, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. It also gives potassium, folate and antioxidants.

General tips

Choose ripe fruit. Look for a pink to rosy red rind. Unripe lychee can rarely cause stomach upset. In the refrigerator the fruit stays good for about two weeks.

Pasteurized lychee juice is fine in small amounts after 12 months. For regular sugary drinks, waiting until age 2 is better. Frequent sweet drinks raise the risk of cavities. They can also fill the belly and lower appetite for meals.

The flesh is firm and the seed is hard, and either can cause choking. Chop or slice the flesh. Remove the seed before serving. Stay beside baby, within arm's reach, for the whole meal.

Lychee is not a common allergen. Allergy is rare but possible. A reaction is possible in people with a birch, grass, or mugwort pollen allergy, and in those with pollen food allergy syndrome. What you usually see is a brief itch or burn in the mouth. A dangerous reaction is not expected.

Itchy rashes have been reported after skin contact with the fruit or its juice. After you handle lychee, wash your own hands, and clean your baby's hands and face once the meal is over. For babies with sensitive skin, putting a barrier ointment on the face before the meal can help.

Start with a small amount for the first servings. If there is no reaction, raise the amount slowly.