Date
Usually introduced around 6 months
Prep warning
Always remove the hard pit before serving. Dates are very concentrated and sweet, so offer small amounts. They are handy as a natural sweetener stirred into other foods instead of added sugar.
Choking notes
Dates are sticky, dense and chewy with a hard pit, all of which make them a choking concern. Always remove the pit, soften the date, and serve it as a smooth paste or finely chopped small soft pieces rather than whole or in chunks. Keep dates in these forms through the preschool years.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Dates are dense, chewy and sticky with a hard pit, so they always need the pit removed and softening. General preparation information: remove the pit, soak or simmer the date until very soft, then mash or blend it into a smooth paste and stir a little into porridge, yogurt or fruit purée. A small amount of date paste also adds natural sweetness to other foods.
Pit removed; date softened and mashed or blended into a smooth paste, stirred into food. Never a whole or chunky date, never with the pit.
9-12 months
Keep dates soft, pitted and broken down. General preparation information: date paste blended into food works well, and you can finely chop a softened, pitted date into very small pieces stirred through a meal. Dates stay sticky and dense, so always remove the pit and keep pieces tiny and soft.
Pit removed; date paste, or a softened date finely chopped into very small soft pieces. Never a whole or chunky date.
12-18 months
Dates can be chopped small or blended in, kept pitted and soft. General preparation information: date paste baked or stirred into food, or a pitted date finely chopped into a meal, are easiest to manage. Because dates are sticky and dense they remain a choking concern, so always remove the pit and keep pieces small and soft rather than whole.
Pit removed; date paste or a pitted date finely chopped into small soft pieces. Still no whole or chunky date.
2 years and up
Keep dates pitted, soft and broken up through the preschool years. General preparation information: a whole or chunky date is sticky and dense, which is a choking shape while airways are small and chewing is still developing. Continue serving dates as a paste or finely chopped soft pieces, always pitted, until around age 4 when your child chews reliably.
Pitted date as paste or finely chopped soft pieces through about age 4. Larger pieces only once chewing is reliable.
Key nutrients
Meal ideas with Date
Common questions
When can my baby eat Date?
Most babies can try Date from around 6 months, once they show signs of readiness. Check the prep and cut-size notes above before you start.
Is Date a choking hazard for babies?
Date is a higher choking-risk food for babies. Prepare it exactly as described in the serving guide above and always stay close during meals.
Is Date a common allergen?
Date is not one of the major food allergens. Any new food can still cause a reaction, so keep an eye on your baby the first few times.
General informational content, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about introducing new foods, especially if your baby has any medical conditions or family history of allergies.
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