Papaya

Fruit

Age Suggestion

6 months

Iron-Rich

Common Allergen

a papaya cut in half before being prepared for babies starting solids

When can babies have papaya?

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

Papaya originated in Central America before it was taken by European colonizers to Africa, Asia, and Australia, where it is sometimes called papaw or pawpaw, a name also given to another fruit. Today, papaya thrives wherever skies are sunny, temperatures are consistently warm, and there is plenty of rainfall to plump up the fruit. Papaya can be eaten raw, like a melon when it is ripe, or cooked like squash when it is still young, firm, and green.

Is papaya healthy for babies?

Yes. Ripe papaya is packed with vitamins A and C—essential nutrients to support baby’s eyesight, immune system, and skin. Vitamin C also helps baby absorb iron from plant-based foods, and papaya offers lots of vitamin C. The fruit also offers plenty of B vitamins for energy, vitamin E for stronger cells, and fiber for a healthy gut.

Is papaya a common allergen?

No. Papaya is not a common allergen, although individuals with cashew, pistachio, mango, latex or kiwi allergy may be sensitive to papaya. Some individuals may also be sensitive to papain, an enzyme in the papaya plant.

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

Is papaya a choking hazard for babies?

Yes. While ripe papaya can be soft and easily mashable, underripe or green papaya can be firm and slippery, which are qualities that can increase choking risk. To reduce the risk, prepare and serve papaya 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

Amelia, 7 months, tastes papaya for the first time.

Callie, 11 months, eats papaya.

Bobbi, 16 months, eats papaya

What are some great first foods for babies?

There are many wonderful options. Look for foods that are easy for baby to feed to themselves, that are low in choking risk, and that offer nutrients babies need, such as iron. Some of our favorite first foods include steamed broccoli, oatmeal, and mango pits. See more ideas in our guide, 50 Fantastic First Foods.

Do I need to start solids with purees?

You can if you’d like, but there's no developmental need to start with textureless food. Babies can be served modified versions of what you eat. Use our First Foods Database to find how to safely serve any food.

How do you serve papaya 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 with the header How to Cut Papaya for Babies: large ripe handles or spears for 6 months+, bite size pieces coated in a topping for grip for 9 months+, bite size pieces for 12 months+

6 months old +:

Offer large wedges or crescent shapes of ripe papaya (skin and seeds removed). The fruit should be soft enough that it mashes readily when gently pressed between thumb and pointer finger. If the fruit is too slippery for baby to hold, sprinkle it with hemp seeds, dry infant cereal, shredded coconut, or finely ground nuts or seeds to add grip and texture. Mashed papaya can also be served on its own for hand scooping or mixed into warm cereal, chia pudding, overnight oats, or yogurt.

9 months old +:

Serve bite-sized pieces of ripe papaya (skin and seeds removed). The fruit should be soft enough that it mashes readily when gently pressed between thumb and pointer finger. If baby struggles to pick up the small, slippery pieces, try coating the fruit in hemp seeds, dry infant cereal, shredded coconut, or finely ground nuts or seeds to add grip and texture, or continue serving ripe papaya in large crescents or wedges.

12 months old +:

Serve bite-sized pieces of ripe, soft papaya to be eaten with a fork or fingers, no modifications needed. When you are introducing a fork, manage your expectations: eating with utensils is a skill that can take well into toddlerhood to get the hang of it. Using utensils accurately can also be exhausting for new eaters, so don’t worry if your toddler goes back and forth between eating with fingers and utensils.