Age Suggestion
6 months
Iron-Rich
No
Common Allergen
No
Fresh cranberries that have been cooked and smashed may be introduced as soon as your baby is ready to start solids, which is generally around 6 months old. Avoid dried cranberries (and dried fruits in general), which are choking hazards for babies because they are sticky and hard to chew. If you can, hold off on serving dried fruit until your child is 2 years old and even then, prioritize fresh fruit over dried fruit.
Yes. Fresh cranberries contain more than 24 antioxidants, along with vitamins C, E, and K. They also have a fair amount of fiber, which can help reduce constipation. Importantly, cranberries are only healthy when they are prepared from fresh cranberries without any added sugar. Cranberry sauce, cranberry juice, dried cranberries, and other processed cranberry products can contain a lot of sugar and are not appropriate for babies.
When cooked and smashed to reduce the choking hazard, fresh cranberries are a great topping for oatmeal, ricotta cheese, and yogurt. They also pair well with duck, turkey, venison and fatty cuts like brisket. Just be warned: too many cranberries can cause diarrhea.
Yes. Just like grapes, cherry tomatoes, and blueberries, fresh cranberries are hard and round—two qualities that create a high choking risk. Always cook fresh cranberries until they’ve reached a soft consistency and ensure that any remaining intact berries are smashed before serving to your baby.
For more information, visit our section on gagging and choking and familiarize yourself with common choking hazards.
No. Cranberries are not a common food allergen, though people who are allergic to salicylates may be allergic to them.Cranberries (and especially dried cranberries) are high in salicylates, which some people are very sensitive to. If your baby is allergic to berries or fruits such as apricot, cherry, pineapple, prunes, or tangerines, consider testing your child for salicylate allergy.
Every baby develops on their own timeline, and the suggestions on how to cut or prepare particular foods are generalizations for a broad audience.
Fresh cranberries must be stewed and smashed to break down their hard, round shapes before serving to your baby. As the berries cook, they soften, burst, and release their juices. Before serving, double check that all whole cranberries have popped, and if they didn’t, gently smash them with a fork or potato masher before serving.
Continue to serve cooked cranberries in the form of a sauce and if you feel your toddler is ready, offer whole cooked cranberries (smash between your fingers slightly to reduce the choking risk.)
Cranberries freeze well and a little cranberry sauce goes a long way. Make a batch of cranberry sauce, divide into ice cube trays, freeze, then store the frozen cubes in a sealed container until you’re ready to serve.
For more information on how to cut food for babies, visit our page on Food Sizes & Shapes.
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