5–6 years: 50–80ml juice, 15–20g pureed fruit
7–8 years: 100ml juice, 25g pureed fruit
9–11 years: 30–40g appropriately mashed or diced fruit
12–15 years: 40–50g whole fruit
Common fruits prone to allergies include mango, pineapple, and citrus fruits. Start with common fruits like apples, bananas, pears, and watermelon, gradually introducing new varieties. Fresh, seasonal fruits are best. Wash, peel, and remove seeds before making juice or puree for your baby.
When introducing fruit juice or puree, follow the same principle as adding other solid foods: introduce only one new variety per week. This makes it easy to identify if your baby reacts negatively to it.
If concerned about allergies to a specific fruit, introduce it in small amounts. Ensure the ingredients are high-quality and fresh. Maintain strict hygiene during preparation and feeding. Observe your baby for any adverse reactions within two hours. If symptoms appear, discontinue the fruit and wait several weeks before reintroducing it in small quantities.
Additionally, boiling fruits for 3–5 minutes before serving can reduce the likelihood of allergic reactions.
Fruit is one of the essential food groups for babies daily. Fruits rich in fiber and vitamins, low in sugar, and high in water content not only taste good and are highly nutritious but also promote metabolism and aid digestion. While beneficial, excessive fruit consumption can lead to fullness, affecting intake of staple foods and causing nutritional imbalance.
It's best to offer two different fruits daily, divided into two servings of about 50g each.Fruits that are too sweet, such as lychees, bananas, watermelon, cantaloupe, and other melons, should be consumed sparingly by babies who are already on the heavier side, as they contain high sugar and calorie content.
It's best to offer fruit to your baby between meals as a snack. Some fruits, like bananas, lychees, persimmons, and oranges, should not be eaten on an empty stomach.
Even freshly squeezed fruit juice loses some nutrients during processing. Therefore, once your baby develops chewing ability, offer them whole, washed fruits instead. Additionally, relying solely on juice or pureed fruit won't help develop your baby's chewing skills.