Prune
- First taste
- 6 months
- Choking risk
- high
- Common allergen
- no
- Iron
- low
Pitted, soaked and mashed · may cause gas
When can babies eat prune?
Pitted prune can be offered once baby is ready for solids, around 6 months. It must be soaked and mashed or finely chopped.
A prune is simply a dried plum. Any plum can be dried. Still, the dried plums that carry the label "prunes" mostly originate in California or France, the largest growers of this type.
Nutrition
Prune is rich in carbohydrates and fiber. Iron, calcium, potassium, B6 and K are in there too. These support energy, digestion, red blood cells and bones.
When a plum dries, it loses water and its natural sugar becomes concentrated. In a balanced diet, the natural sugar of fruit is not a concern.
How do you prepare prune for babies?
Always remove the pit. Leave the prune in hot water for around fifteen minutes. Then mash it or chop it very fine. You can stir it into soft foods like oats and yogurt.
Prune is one of the common helpers for constipation. Sorbitol and fiber soften stool. It is not the only way, though. Many fiber-rich foods do the same job. Talk to your pediatrician if constipation continues.
Portion
Start small and raise it as baby tolerates. A lot can cause gas and loose stools.
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
Let pitted prunes sit in hot water for about a quarter of an hour. When fully soft, chop very fine, mash or purée. Serve alone or stirred into oat porridge or yogurt. Start small. The fiber content is high and may cause gas or loose stools.
12 months
12 months · How to servecube
Cut: Finely chopped
Chop pitted prunes very fine. Soaking is no longer required at this age, though it lowers choking risk. Serve the chopped pieces alone or stirred into porridge and yogurt. A whole prune is not suggested before 18 months.
Is prune a choking hazard for babies?
Choking risk: high
Dried fruit is firm and sticky and hard to chew. Soak pitted prunes and mash or finely chop them. A whole prune is not suitable for young children.
Dried fruit is firm and hard to chew, and that raises choking risk. Prune is also sticky.
For babies, soak and mash prunes or chop them very fine. A whole pitted prune can be tried only after 18 months, by a child with molars and good biting and chewing skills, and only one or two at a time. If the child does not chew well, do not cut the prune into small bits. Small bits can be stuffed in the mouth and may be riskier. Stay beside the child during meals.
Safe preparation
Pit it, soak it, then mash or chop fine. Mash at 6 months, finely chopped at 12 months.
Is prune a common allergen?
Prune is not a common allergen. People sensitive or allergic to birch, and those with oral allergy syndrome, may react to plum and prune. This syndrome causes brief mouth itching and a dangerous reaction is not expected. People sensitive to apricot, peach and plum may also be sensitive to prune.
At the first try, offer a small amount alone. If there is no reaction, raise it slowly.
Key nutrients
Frequently asked questions about prune
Does prune help constipation?
It holds sorbitol and fiber, which help soften stool. See your pediatrician if constipation continues.
Why should I soak prunes?
Soaking softens them, makes mashing easy and lowers choking risk.
Do prunes carry a lot of sugar?
Drying concentrates the fruit sugar. In a balanced diet, natural fruit sugar is not a concern. Still, give small portions.
My baby got gassy. Should I stop prunes?
A lot of fiber can cause gas or loose stools. Cut the amount and try again. Ask your pediatrician if it continues.
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.
- Lever E, Scott SM, Louis P, Emery PW, Whelan K. (2019). The effect of prunes on stool output, gut transit time and gastrointestinal microbiota: A randomised controlled trial. Clinical Nutrition. doi:10.1016/j.clnu.2018.01.003
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