Blueberries may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age. Due to their round shape, blueberries are a choking hazard so be sure to smash or quarter them to reduce the choking risk.

Baby just starting solids? Our guides have got you covered, from introducing allergens to breakfast ideas.

The round shape of blueberries makes them a potential choking hazard. Read on to learn how to prepare them for babies and toddlers.

Blueberries grow around the globe, with Canada and the United States producing most of the world’s supply, though it wasn’t always this way. Blueberries descended from tundra plants that emerged across the Northern Hemisphere after the Ice Age. Many varieties of “blue” berries exist within this plant family, including bilberry (from Asia and Europe) and huckleberry (from North America) which are often colloquially called blueberries. Until the 19th century, these berries were typically harvested in the wild by communities during berry-picking gatherings in peak summer. Feeding troops during the American Civil War created demand for wild blueberry farming, and in the 20th century, modern agriculture bred the larger, lighter-colored blueberries that dominate the global market today.

Yes. Blueberries are a good source of fiber and offer small amounts of plenty of other nutrients, such as vitamin E to protect cells from damage, vitamin K for healthy blood, and vitamin C, which helps our bodies absorb iron from plants – so try serving blueberries alongside iron-rich plant foods like lentils, beans, nuts, and seeds. Blueberries are also among the fruits highest in antioxidants, including anthocyanins, which protect our cells from damage and support heart health, blood sugar regulation, immunity, and gut health.

Blueberry jams, jellies, and preserves typically contain added sugar, which should be limited in a baby’s diet, so try to wait on offering these blueberry products until after 12 months of age and, ideally, closer to age 2.

Rinse blueberries well before serving to baby, as berries are high on the list of fruits grown with the most pesticides. Rinsing fruit and veggies can help reduce pesticide residue.

If you are foraging for your own blueberries, do your research and consult with local experts to confirm that the variety that you are picking is edible—then be sure to remove the green unripe berries, leaves, and stems before you start cooking.

★Tip: Hold off on rinsing blueberries until you are ready to eat them. Blueberries stay freshest in the refrigerator without rinsing.

Yes. The round shape, small size, and firmness of a blueberry makes it a choking hazard for babies. To minimize the risk, flatten fresh blueberries into a disc shape between your fingers, quarter them and stir into other foods, or cook them until they burst. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals. For more information on choking, visit our sections on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with the list of common choking hazards.

Once an older baby or toddler is taking bites and not stuffing their mouth with food, they can typically manage fresh whole blueberries in a safe eating environment. For most, this will be after the first birthday. That said, major healthy advisory bodies consider whole blueberries a common choking hazard until age four because of their round, firm shape. You may decide to work your way up to whole blueberries by flattening them a little less each time you serve them.

No, blueberries are not a common allergen, although allergies to blueberries have been reported. Individuals who are sensitive to blueberry may also react to lingonberry and cranberry, which are closely related. Blueberry contains a lipid transfer protein (LTP) allergen that is known to cross-react with LTPs of a number of other foods, especially stone fruits such as peach, apricot, and cherry. This protein may also cross-react with raspberry, grape, chestnut, hazelnut, maize, barley, asparagus, carrot, and lettuce.

As you would when introducing any new food, start by offering a small amount during the first few servings. If there is no adverse reaction, gradually increase the amount served over future meals.

Not necessarily. Wild blueberries offer similar nutrients as the larger high-bush blueberries, although they tend to contain more antioxidants. Wild blueberries tend to be much smaller (about the size of a toddler’s thumbnail) which makes them a slightly higher choking risk and harder to modify. That said, if you have access to wild blueberries, enjoy! Just flatten them before serving to reduce the choking risk.