Strawberry

Strawberries can be offered once your baby seems ready for solids, usually around 6 months. Not every strawberry suits a baby. Size and firmness decide it.

Each berry brings vitamin C, vitamin K, vitamin B6, folate, potassium and magnesium, plus fiber and water. Plant polyphenols act as antioxidants. Vitamin C helps the body absorb plant iron.

Varieties and flavor

Strawberries grow in temperate regions. Some are the size of a fingernail and some fill a palm. The color can be red, pink, purple or white. Some are sweet and some are sharp like pineapple. The difference depends on the variety, and on how the fruit was cultivated and when it was harvested.

Every baby develops at their own pace. The tips below are general guidance.

Between 6 and 8 months you can offer one very large, very soft, ripe strawberry whole, stem removed. If the berry fits fully inside your baby's mouth, it is too small, so mash or cook it. To test softness, press it gently with your fingers. A berry that gives under light pressure is fine. A berry that needs a hard press is too firm.

At 9 months, slices of medium thickness work well. Paper-thin slices are hard to pick up and stick to the tongue, which causes gagging. At 12 months, keep serving slices. When your toddler is ready, offer large berries whole or quartered.

You can also stir mashed berries into yogurt or warm oatmeal.

Strawberries carry a choking risk, especially when firm, round or small. Choose very large, soft, ripe berries. Prepare them to suit your baby's age. Stay within arm's reach and keep the eating space safe.

Strawberry is not a common allergen. Allergenic proteins have still been found in the fruit. These proteins occur less in white strawberries.

A more frequent event is a harmless redness around the mouth caused by the fruit's acid. This is not an allergy. Eaten in large amounts, strawberries can also worsen diaper rash. If that happens, apply a thick barrier cream and limit contact with a wet diaper.

Children with birch pollen allergy may have oral allergy syndrome. Baby may feel a mild itch, tingle or burn in the mouth, which goes away without treatment. Heating the fruit can soften the reaction. Strawberry belongs to the rose family. People sensitive to almonds, apples or plums from the same family may react in a similar way.

Start with a small amount the first time and watch your baby's response.