FirstNom
Fruit
Persimmon for babies
Persimmon is a good autumn fruit with one firm rule: it must be fully ripe. Unripe persimmon is mouth-puckeringly astringent and dense.
When can babies have persimmon?
From around 6 months, fully ripe and peeled. Hachiya persimmons must be jelly-soft before they are edible; fuyu can be eaten firmer but should still be soft for a baby.
How do you serve persimmon 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.
-
6–8 months
Peel a fully ripe persimmon and cut into finger-width wedges, or scoop and mash the flesh.
-
9–11 months
Bite-sized pieces of ripe fruit.
-
12–18 months
Wedges or cubes.
-
18–24 months
Slices and chunks. Family portions.
Prep tip
Hachiya persimmons — the pointed ones — must be almost liquid inside before they are edible. Fuyu — the squat, tomato-shaped ones — are ready when they give slightly.
Storage
Ripen at room temperature. Once soft, refrigerate and use within two days.
Is persimmon a choking hazard for babies?
Fully ripe persimmon is soft and low risk. Under-ripe fuyu persimmon is firm and apple-like and should not be served raw to a baby. Remove the skin and any seeds. Dried persimmon is chewy 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 persimmon a common allergen?
Persimmon 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 persimmon healthy for babies?
Persimmon is very high in vitamin A and fibre and carries good vitamin C. It is a seasonal fruit rather than a staple, but it brings a genuinely useful nutrient profile when it is around.
| Vitamin A | Very high |
|---|---|
| Vitamin C | High |
| Fibre | Very high |
| Manganese | Good source |
| Iron per serving | ~0.2 mg |
Common questions about persimmon
Why did persimmon make my baby pull a face?
Almost certainly an unripe one. Unripe persimmon is high in tannins and astringent enough to be genuinely unpleasant. Wait until it is soft.
Fuyu or hachiya?
Fuyu is easier — it is edible while still firm and does not need to reach jelly consistency. For a baby, ripen either until soft.
Reference material
Guidance on this page follows the sources listed below.
Foods parents look at next
Fruit
Mango
Sweet, soft and packed with vitamin C — serve it with an iron food and it earns its place twice.
Fruit
Apricot
Fresh or dried — and dried apricot is one of the better iron-bearing fruits.
Fruit
Pear
Soft when ripe, gentle on the stomach, and the go-to fruit when your baby is constipated.
Fruit
Papaya
Soft as butter when ripe — one of the gentlest fruits on a new digestive system.