Cherry

Fruit

Age Suggestion

6 months

Iron-Rich

Common Allergen

A pile of cherries before they have been prepared for a baby starting solid foods

Warning

Cherries are a common choking hazard, so keep reading to learn more about serving this fruit safely to babies.

When can babies have cherries?

Cherries may be introduced as soon as baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months of age.

The cherry traces back to the wild fruit that originated in the fertile areas around the Black Sea. In that region, humans learned to cultivate the tastiest cherries to eat and trade with cultures in Africa, Europe, and Asia, where the plant’s blossoms came to symbolize beauty, love, and the evanescence of life. From Germany (called kirshen), to Chile (cereza), to Turkey (kiraz), there are thousands of varieties in all sorts of colors. Cherries also vary in taste; some are sweet cherries and others sour, and both types can be eaten fresh or cooked in desserts and savory dishes.

Are cherries healthy for babies?

Yes. Cherries, both sweet and sour, offer carbohydrates, fiber, and water, in addition to potassium and vitamins B6, C, and K. Together, these nutrients help provide energy to fuel baby’s movement and exploration, support the digestive system, and keep baby hydrated. They also help to support electrolyte balance, metabolic processes, skin health, iron absorption, immune function, and blood clotting. Cherries and other stone fruits are particularly helpful for babies struggling with constipation.

Are cherries a common allergen?

No. Although serious allergic reactions to cherry have been reported, cherry is not considered to be a common food allergen. Individuals who are allergic to the pollen from birch trees or who have Oral Allergy Syndrome (also called pollen food allergy syndrome) to other foods in the Rosaceae or stone fruit family may be sensitive to cherries. Oral Allergy Syndrome typically results in short-lived itching, tingling, or burning in the mouth and is unlikely to result in a dangerous reaction. Cooking and peeling the fruit can help to minimize the reaction. However, cherries can be difficult to peel due to their small size.

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

Are cherries a choking hazard for babies?

Yes. Cherries are round and often firm, with a hard pit inside, all qualities that increase the risk of choking. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve cherries in an age-appropriate way as described in the How to Serve section. As always, make sure you create a safe eating environment and stay within an arm’s reach of baby during meals.

Learn the signs of choking and gagging and more about choking first aid in our free guides, Infant Rescue and Toddler Rescue.

Videos

Sebastián, 8 months, works on his pincer grasp trying to pick up some chopped cherries.

Hawii, 12 months, eats fresh cherries.

Max, 13 months, eats quartered cherries.

Can babies eat sour cherries?

Yes. As long as they are served in an age-appropriate way to reduce the risk of choking, both sweet and sour cherries are nourishing options for babies.

Can babies have dried cherries?

Yes, but only after the dried cherries have been rehydrated in hot water until fully softened to reduce choking risk. Hold off on serving unmodified dried cherries until sometime after the second birthday, when the child has molars for chewing more challenging textures and is consistently chewing well and not stuffing their mouth with food, as dried fruit is challenging to chew and a potential choking hazard.

How do you serve cherries to babies?

Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience.

a Solid Starts infographic showing how to cut cherries by age: minced for 6 months+, quartered for 9 months+, flattened, pitted for 12 months+ and varies for whole

6 months old +:

Finely chop pitted and de-stemmed cherries to fold into soft foods like chia seed pudding, oatmeal, porridge, ricotta cheese, or yogurt. You can also serve the pitted and finely chopped ripe cherries on their own in a bowl for baby to scoop with their hands. Alternatively, cook fresh or frozen pitted cherries until they’re completely soft and burst, then serve the cooked cherries on their own or stirred into other foods.

9 months old +:

At this age, babies develop the pincer grasp (where the thumb and forefinger meet), which enables them to pick up smaller pieces of food. Serve cherries that have been pitted, de-stemmed, and quartered – a smaller shape that helps baby develop this skill. If baby is having a hard time picking up the cherry quarters, you can try offering whole, pitted cherries that have been smashed into flat discs. You can also continue serving finely chopped or cooked, soft cherries (pits and stems removed) on their own or mixed into other foods.

12 months old +:

If you feel the toddler is ready, try offering whole, pitted, de-stemmed cherries that have been smashed into flat discs. If you are finding the child is spitting a lot of the fruit out, try cutting the discs in half to make them smaller, or offering quartered pieces of ripe, pitted cherries. Continue offering finely chopped or cooked pitted cherries as desired.

3 years old +:

If the child is taking accurate-sized bites, not stuffing their mouth with food and able to follow instructions, they may be ready to learn how to work with an entire pitted cherry. While whole cherries are a choking hazard, it is our professional opinion that there are enormous benefits in teaching toddlers to take bites from challenging foods and how to safely eat them. If you feel the child is ready and you’re okay taking the risk, consider serving a whole cherry, first modeling how to take bites from the whole cherry yourself. Bite into the fruit, tearing off one half. Say, “My teeth hit the hard pit.” Turn the fruit around to show the pit to the child. Tap it and explain, “Look, there’s a hard pit in there.” Then, pull the pit out and show it to them, saying, “We don’t eat this part.” Dramatically toss the pit into the trash. Offer a whole cherry to the child and say, “You try”. You can try to hold onto the fruit while they take their first bite, but know they may get the whole fruit in their mouth anyway.

If the child inadvertently puts a pit in their mouth, step one: do not panic. Remember that a pit can be safely swallowed whole, or may produce a strong enough gag reflex to move it forward and out of the mouth. Kneel next to the child and demonstrate sticking your tongue out, then say “Spit that out please.” Put your hand under their chin. If needed, put a pit in your own mouth, show it on your tongue, then demonstrate spitting it into your own hand.