Huckleberry

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

Huckleberry is a common name for different plants bearing small black, red, or purple berries, and for centuries, the fruits have nourished humans. Like blueberries, huckleberries are tundra plants that emerged across the Northern Hemisphere after the Ice Age. Even today, huckleberries mainly grow in the wild, thriving in alpine fields, boreal basins and bogs, and highland forests. Huckleberry is particularly popular in the northwest region of North America, where the fruit is gathered at berry-picking parties, a longstanding tradition across cultures.

Yes. Huckleberries offer carbohydrates, fiber, fluid, vitamin C, and a variety of antioxidants. Together, these nutrients support baby’s energy to play and explore, flourishing gut microbiome, hydration, skin health, immune function, and iron absorption. Huckleberries also contain plant compounds such as polyphenols and anthocyanins which offer antioxidant properties to support baby’s overall health.

★Tip: If you are foraging for your own huckleberries, make sure that the berries that you are picking are safe and edible.

No, huckleberries are not a common allergen, though information is limited.

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

Yes. Huckleberries are small, round, and often firm, qualities that increase the risk of choking. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve huckleberries 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.

Once an older baby or toddler is taking bites and not stuffing their mouth with food, they can typically manage fresh whole huckleberries in a safe eating environment. For many babies, this can occur between 9 and 12 months, but after the first birthday is more typical. You may decide to work your way up to whole huckleberries by flattening them a little less each time you serve them.

Yes, but only after the dried huckleberries have been rehydrated in hot water until fully softened, to reduce choking risk. Hold off on serving unmodified dried huckleberries 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, as dried fruit is challenging to chew and a potential choking hazard.