FirstNom
Fruit
Cherry for babies
Cherries carry two hazards at once: a hard stone and a round shape. Pit them, quarter them lengthways, and they are a perfectly good fruit.
When can babies have cherry?
From around 6 months, pitted and quartered lengthways.
How do you serve cherry to a baby?
The shape is what makes a food safe, and it changes as your baby’s grip and chewing change. Find your baby’s age band.
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6–8 months
Pit, then quarter lengthways. Or pit and mash into yogurt.
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9–11 months
Pitted and quartered for pincer practice.
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12–18 months
Pitted and quartered. Not halved, and never whole with the pit.
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24 months+
Halved from around 4 years; whole pitted cherries later still.
Prep tip
A cherry pitter is worth the drawer space in season. Check each cherry after pitting — the tool leaves fragments behind more often than you would expect.
Storage
Refrigerate unwashed for up to a week. Pitted cherries freeze well.
Is cherry a choking hazard for babies?
The pit is a serious hazard and must always be removed — check every cherry, because pitters miss some. The pitted cherry is still round and firm-skinned, so quarter it lengthways for children under about 4 years. Dried cherries are firmer still and should be chopped small.
Whatever you serve, stay within arm’s reach, keep your baby upright in a supportive seat, and never let them eat in a moving car, buggy or carrier. Gagging is loud and normal. Choking is silent.
Is cherry a common allergen?
Cherry is not one of the nine most common food allergens. Any food can trigger a reaction, though, so offer it on its own the first time and watch for hives, vomiting, swelling or a change in breathing over the next two hours.
Is cherry healthy for babies?
Cherries are dense in anthocyanins and carry useful potassium and vitamin C. Sour cherries carry more vitamin A. They are a seasonal treat rather than a staple, and their main practical requirement is careful preparation.
| Vitamin C | Good source |
|---|---|
| Potassium | Good source |
| Anthocyanins | Very high |
| Fibre | Good source |
| Iron per serving | ~0.2 mg |
Common questions about cherry
Are cherry pits poisonous?
The kernel inside contains amygdalin, which releases cyanide when crushed. Swallowing one whole pit intact is not a poisoning risk, but the pit is a serious choking hazard, which is the real reason to remove every one.
What about maraschino or glacé cherries?
Very high in sugar and usually artificially coloured. Not suitable as a baby food; occasional at most for older toddlers.
Reference material
Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.
Foods parents look at next
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Squash them. A whole blueberry is exactly the shape that causes trouble.
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Fresh or dried — and dried apricot is one of the better iron-bearing fruits.