Quince

Quince cooked until soft can be offered once baby is ready for solids, around 6 months. A few types can be eaten raw, but most are very firm even when ripe. To be safe for a baby it must be cooked.

Quince is related to the apple and comes from a region between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. Most types are astringent and hard when raw, then soften and sweeten with cooking. Today it is eaten as jam, jelly and paste. It also serves as a sweet partner to savory dishes such as meat stews and tagines.

Nutrition

Quince stands out for its vitamin B6 and zinc. These help heart health, thinking skills and healthy growth. It also gives small amounts of iron, potassium, carotenoids and polyphenols. It is high in fiber, mainly pectin, which aids digestion. It carries strong antioxidants.

Peel the quince, take out every seed and cook it until soft. At 6 months give big pieces, quarters or a mash. Bigger is better at this age. If baby bites off a piece that is too big, stay calm and let baby work it forward before you step in. At 9 months, once the pincer grasp develops, add bite-sized pieces. At 12 months pre-load a fork and leave it on the table.

Quince jam and jelly hold added sugar. Wait until closer to age 2. An occasional taste is fine.

Seeds

The seeds contain a substance which the body can convert to cyanide. In large amounts it is harmful. Some cultures use the seeds as medicine, but remove every seed before serving to a baby.

Digestion

Quince gives fluid and fiber, mainly pectin. Pectin feeds gut bacteria, softens stool and aids digestion. Every baby's bowel pattern differs. Ask your pediatrician if you are concerned.

Raw quince is very firm, so choking risk is high. Take out the seeds and cook the quince until soft.

You can eat the skin and it adds little choking risk, but it may be hard to chew. Peel it if baby struggles. Stay beside baby during meals.

Quince rarely causes allergy, although some cases have been reported. Information is limited. People sensitive to other fruits of the rose family (Rosaceae), such as apple, apricot, almond and plum, may react to quince in a similar way. Those with oral allergy syndrome to these fruits, especially birch pollen allergy, could in theory be sensitive to quince. This syndrome gives a short spell of itching, tingling or burning around the mouth, and a dangerous reaction is not expected. Cooking or peeling the fruit may reduce the reaction.

Give a small amount at the first servings and watch baby closely. If there is no reaction, raise it slowly.