When can a baby eat pineapple?

Pineapple is known as a fun tropical fruit. Even though it is slightly acidic, it is considered safe for your baby to start eating at six months. Keep in mind that acidity can cause diaper rash, and if it does, you might want to wait to try pineapple again when your baby is older.

Introducing your baby to pineapple

At six months, your baby begins to taste mostly pureed foods as he gets used to eating with a spoon. Pineapple is a fun fruit because it has a distinct flavor and thick texture when mashed.

If you don't want to buy a whole pineapple, you can start with canned fruit. Just be sure to read the label and check for added sugar. Doctors advise not adding sugar until your baby is at least two years old.

If your child doesn't like pineapple at first, keep offering it regularly. It may take several times before the child likes it.

Nutritional value of pineapple for your baby

Like citrus fruits, pineapple is rich in vitamin C. Vitamin C is not only good for your child's immune system, but also helps their body absorb iron from other foods. Manganese, another important nutrient in pineapple, promotes growth and healthy metabolism. Pineapple also contains many antioxidants that help fight chronic diseases.

How to prepare pineapple for your baby

Start by offering your baby puree. If he's teething, cut large slices of pineapple to "chew" to ease the pain of teething. When your child is ready to bite into the fruit, cut it into fingertip sized pieces or into thin strips that they can hold. This helps prevent choking as your child navigates new food sizes and textures.

If pineapple is too acidic for your child at first, try mixing it with other fruits or yogurt to offset the acidity.

You may be tempted to offer your child pineapple juice, but be sure to check food labels for added sugar. You should not give juice to children under 12 months old, but if your child is old enough, be sure to only give 100% fruit juice.

Tips for introducing your baby to new foods

Before offering solid food for the first time, ask yourself the following questions:

Can my child hold his head on his own? This is an important stage in the development of solid food consumption.
Is my child interested in food? Your child may watch with interest as you eat, or even try to grab your food and taste it. When you offer a spoon to a child, he must open his mouth to eat.
Can my child carry food down his throat? If you offer food with a spoon, the child may first push it with his tongue. This is called the tongue thrust reflex. Over time, your child will learn to use their tongue to push food deep into their mouth and swallow it.
Is my child big enough? Your baby must be twice their birth weight and weigh at least 6 kg before they start eating solid food.

Offer variety. When your child starts eating solid foods, he needs to diversify his diet. This helps ensure your baby is getting all the nutrients they need and also helps expand their palate for new flavors.

Normalize new products. After you've introduced your child to a new food and made sure he's not allergic to it, try offering it again at least twice a week. Not only does this introduce your child to new foods, but it can also prevent food allergies. Also, when your child is learning to eat, he is watching you. Be sure to offer them the same foods as the rest of the family to encourage them.

Think about allergens. By the time your child is 12 months old, they should be introduced to all common allergenic foods:

Boiled egg
Creamy peanut butter
Cow's milk (dairy product)
Nuts (such as cashews or marzipan)
Soya
Sesame
Wheat
Fish and other seafood

By introducing these foods early in your diet, you can reduce your child's risk of developing food allergies. Introduce only one new food at a time and wait at least three days before introducing a new one so you can monitor your child's reaction to the product in case of an allergic reaction.

If you notice that your child is having an allergic reaction, stop giving this food immediately. If the reaction is characterized by swelling of the lips, eyes, or face; hives; or vomiting, contact your pediatrician. If you suspect anaphylaxis, characterized by a swollen tongue or difficulty breathing, call an ambulance immediately.