Mulberry
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- medium
Not an allergen · dried mulberry is hard and sticky
When can babies eat mulberry?
When can babies have mulberries?
Mulberries can be offered from about 6 months, once ripe and soft. Most of the mulberries grown in Turkey are the white type. They are eaten fresh, dried, or made into molasses and fruit leather (pestil).
Nutrition and origin
According to a brochure from a research institute of the Turkish Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, 100 grams of fresh mulberries have about 1.1 mg of iron and 17 mg of vitamin C. A peer-reviewed review reports that mulberries are rich in anthocyanins. Nutrient values vary with species and ripeness.
Mulberry molasses is a free sugar
Mulberry molasses is very high in sugar. Treat the cautions we give for grape molasses as applying to mulberry molasses too.
How do you prepare mulberry for babies?
Preparation basics
Rinse the mulberries in plenty of water and pull off the stems. For younger babies, mash with a fork and stir into yogurt or porridge. After 9 months, serve ripe, soft berries whole or halved. Mulberries stain clothes and skin, so use a bib.
Dried mulberries
Dried mulberries are hard and sticky. The NHS advises chopping raisins for babies under 1 year. Apply the same thinking to dried mulberries: soften them in warm water and chop finely. Sugar is concentrated in dried fruit, so use it sparingly.
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.
Prep time: 5 min
6 months
6 months · How to prepare as a puréemash
Cut: Fork mashed
Rinse the mulberries in plenty of water and pull off the stems. Mash with a fork and stir into yogurt or oat porridge. Ripe, soft mulberries squash easily on the tongue. If the mash turns too watery, thicken it with grains.
9 months
9 months · How to cut and servecube
Serve stemmed, ripe mulberries whole or halved. Because they are long and soft, they are safer than round fruit. Dried mulberries are hard and sticky. At this age, soften them in water and mash them.
12 months
12 months · How to cut and servecube
Keep serving fresh mulberries whole. Soften dried mulberries in warm water, chop finely and stir into yogurt. Whole dried mulberries are not served until age 4. Use mulberry molasses sparingly, like sugar.
Is mulberry a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
Fresh, ripe mulberries are soft and low risk. Dried mulberries are hard and sticky and are not served whole. Remove the stems and stay close during meals.
Choking risk
Fresh, ripe mulberries are small, soft and long. They squash easily on the tongue, so the risk is low. Dried mulberries are hard and sticky and therefore risky. Do not serve whole dried mulberries before age 4. Remove the stems and feed baby sitting upright.
Is mulberry a common allergen?
Allergen status
Mulberry is not among the common allergens. Start with a small amount the first time. If itching in the mouth, a rash or swelling appears, stop and contact your pediatrician. Read the ingredient list on dried or packaged mulberry products.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about mulberry
When can I give dried mulberries?
Dried mulberries are hard and sticky. After 9 months you can soften them in warm water and mash or finely chop them into yogurt. Whole dried mulberries are not served before age 4.
Can I give mulberry molasses?
Mulberry molasses is very high in sugar. This app does not recommend molasses as an everyday food. See the grape molasses page for details.
Do mulberries stain?
Yes, dark mulberries can stain clothes and skin. Use a bib and wipe the face after the meal. The stain is only cosmetic.
Why should I remove the stems?
Stems are fibrous and tough, so they are hard to chew. Pull them off after rinsing so that only the soft fruit goes into baby's mouth.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- NHS. (n.d.). Preparing food safely for babies.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- T.C. Tarım ve Orman Bakanlığı, Atatürk Bahçe Kültürleri Merkez Araştırma Enstitüsü, Yalova. (n.d.). Dut Yetiştiriciliği, Çiftçi Broşürü.
- Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences. (2021). Nutritional constituents of mulberry and their potential applications in food and pharmaceuticals: A review.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Foods and Drinks to Avoid or Limit.
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.
The Lokmini app
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Astro Tasarım Simay Yenice · Türkiye · merhaba@lokmini.com