Pawpaw
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- low
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Ripe, raw, small amount · skin and seeds toxic
When can babies eat pawpaw?
Ripe pawpaw can be offered once your baby is ready for solids, usually around 6 months. Begin with a little raw fruit that is fresh and ripe.
Pawpaw grows on leafy trees native to North America. Its tropical taste is no accident, since it is related to tropical fruits such as cherimoya and custard apple. Do not mix it up with papaya, which is a different fruit.
Pawpaw gives carbohydrates and fiber, and also vitamin C, iron, and magnesium. It gives quick energy, supports digestion and helps the body absorb iron.
Skin and seeds are toxic
Do not give the skin or seeds. Cooked, dried or unripe fruit, and very large amounts of ripe fruit, can upset the stomach.
How do you prepare pawpaw for babies?
Check ripeness
Ripe pawpaw has dark brown or black skin, much like an overripe banana. It feels very soft when pressed lightly. Wash your hands after handling the skin and seeds.
Keep portions modest
Give only fruit that is fresh and ripe, peeled and seeded, in moderate portions. Do not serve dried or cooked fruit.
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 mashmash
Cut: Fork mashed
Peel a little ripe, fresh pawpaw, take out the seeds, and mash it. Let your baby scoop it with a spoon or hand. Start slowly, because a lot at once can upset the stomach. Do not serve cooked, dried or unripe fruit.
9 months
9 months · How to prepare as small piecescube
Cut: Bite sized piece
You can keep mashing it. Once your baby starts picking up food with two fingers, offer bite-size pieces. Ripe pawpaw is very soft and pieces can squash in the hand. If your baby gets frustrated, place a piece on a spoon and hold it out to grab.
12 months
12 months · How to prepare as finger foodcube
Cut: Bite sized piece
Offer bite-size pieces, pre-loaded on a spoon so they do not squash, or ones your child can pick up by hand. No skin or seeds. After age 3 you can hand over a half fruit and show how to remove the seeds.
Is pawpaw a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: low
Ripe pawpaw is soft and the risk is low. Always remove the skin and seeds, because they are toxic.
Ripe pawpaw is soft enough to squash under light pressure, so the choking risk is low. In theory, any food can cause choking.
Make sure the fruit is ripe. Peel the fruit and remove the seeds first. Stay close while your baby eats and keep them upright.
Is pawpaw a common allergen?
Pawpaw is not a common allergen. Still, stomach upset and rashes have been reported after eating it. Cooking or drying the fruit, or eating a lot of it, can make symptoms worse. Skin contact has also led to allergic rashes. Handle the fruit, rind and pits, then wash your hands.
The fruit holds annonacin, a compound that is toxic to nerves. Large quantities eaten often for a long period might affect the nervous system, though studies are few. A modest portion in a diet with plenty of variety is not worrying.
Give a small amount the first few times. If there is no reaction, increase the portion.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about pawpaw
Are pawpaw and papaya the same fruit?
No. Pawpaw is a separate, creamy fruit native to North America. Papaya is a tropical fruit. Their care and safety notes differ.
Can I cook pawpaw for my baby?
No. Cooked, dried or unripe pawpaw can upset the stomach. Serve fresh, ripe fruit.
Is pawpaw safe for babies?
Yes, if the fruit is ripe, peeled and seeded, and the portion stays modest. Do not give large amounts every day.
Sources for this page
- Dünya Sağlık Örgütü. (2023). Guideline for complementary feeding of infants and young children 6-23 months of age.
- CDC, Infant and Toddler Nutrition. (n.d.). Choking Hazards.
- NHS. (n.d.). Preparing food safely for babies.
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