Dried figs

Q: When can babies eat dried figs?

From around 6 months, once your baby is ready for solids, served in a safe shape and texture for their age.

Jammy and sweet once soaked. Cut off the stem, soften them, then mash or chop.

Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review

Quick answer

Babies can eat dried figs from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.

From 6 monthsHigh choking risk as servedNot a common allergen

How to serve dried figs by age

6 months+

Soaked and mashed or blended

Cut off the hard stem tip. Soak dried figs in just-boiled water for 10 to 15 minutes, or simmer them for about 10 minutes, until very soft. Mash or blend with a little of the soaking water, then stir into iron-fortified cereal or oatmeal, or spread thinly on toast fingers once wheat has been introduced on its own. Check the bread label for honey, which isn't safe before 12 months.

Size: Mashed or blended smooth and stirred into a soft food, or spread thinly on a toast finger about 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in). No whole or dry figs.
Check before serving: The mash should be smooth and loose, with no tough skin or stem pieces. Squash a soaked fig between your thumb and finger: it should flatten easily and not feel leathery.

US and UK advice differ here. The AAP suggests mashed food or soft pieces no larger than ½ inch; the NHS suggests soft finger-sized pieces your baby can hold in their fist. Both agree the food must squash easily.

Always have your child sit upright in a high chair or at the table, and stay with them the whole time they eat. Keep to the size and texture for their stage. Every baby develops on their own timeline.

How to prepare dried figs

1
Choose plain dried figs with no added sugar or coating. Rinse them in a sieve under running water.
2
Cut off the hard stem tip of each fig.
3
Cover them with just-boiled water and soak for 10 to 15 minutes, or simmer for about 10 minutes, until very soft. Let them cool.
4
Mash or blend with a little of the soaking water (6 months), or chop finely (9 months+), and mix into a moist food such as oatmeal or yogurt.

How much to offer

Start with a teaspoon of mashed fig stirred into a familiar food. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Dried figs are rich in fiber, so a little goes a long way.

Common mistakes

Serving dried figs as they come

Dried figs are sticky and chewy. The CDC lists uncooked dried fruit as a choking hazard for young children, and the NHS says not to give whole dried fruit to babies under 1 and to always cut it into small pieces. Soak them until soft, then mash or chop them.

Leaving the hard stem on

The stem tip of a dried fig is tough. Cut it off before soaking.

Using figs as a between-meal snack

The sugar in dried fruit can cause tooth decay. The NHS suggests giving dried fruit with meals rather than as a snack in between.

Serving a big pile of loose pieces

Sticky pieces can clump together in the mouth. Mix them into a moist food instead.

Where US and UK guidance differ on dried figs

United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting

The CDC lists uncooked dried fruit as a choking hazard for young children, without a set age, so keep softening dried figs and mashing or chopping them through the toddler years. For constipation, the AAP suggests high-fiber foods, and seeing your pediatrician if it lasts more than a week or there is blood in the stool.

United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting

The NHS says not to give whole dried fruit to babies under 1, to always cut it into small pieces, and to give dried fruit with meals, not as a snack, to protect teeth. For constipation, the NHS says to take your child to a GP if you think they may be constipated, and to get help early.

We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.

Questions parents ask

Can dried figs be a choking hazard for babies?

Dried figs are sticky and chewy: the CDC lists uncooked dried fruit as a choking hazard for young children and warns against small, sticky foods. Cut off the hard stem, soak dried figs until soft, then mash or chop them finely and mix them into a moist food. Make sure your child sits down to eat, and stay with them.

Can babies be allergic to dried figs?

Dried figs are not a common allergen. Some dried fruits contain sulfur dioxide (sulfites). The NHS lists sulfur dioxide among foods that can trigger a reaction, and in the US the FDA requires sulfites to be declared on the label at 10 parts per million or more, so check the label if your child has reacted to sulfites before.

Are dried figs healthy for babies?

Dried figs give fiber, calcium, potassium and some iron: about 9.8 g of fiber, 162 mg of calcium, 680 mg of potassium and 2 mg of iron per 100 g. Babies eat them only a spoonful at a time, so a serving adds a little of each. They are high in natural sugar, about 48 g per 100 g.

When can babies eat dried figs?

From around 6 months, with the stem cut off, soaked until soft and mashed or blended into a soft food. The NHS says not to give whole dried fruit to babies under 1, and to always cut it into small pieces.

Can dried figs help with constipation?

They're rich in fiber. The NHS lists not eating enough high-fiber foods like fruit and vegetables, and not drinking enough, among causes of constipation in children, and the AAP suggests offering high-fiber foods once your baby is eating solids. If you think your child is constipated, the NHS advises seeing your GP and getting help early, and the AAP says to see your pediatrician if it lasts more than a week or you see blood in the poop.

Are dried figs bad for teeth?

They can be. The NHS says the sugar in dried fruit can cause tooth decay, so it's best to offer them with meals rather than as a snack between meals.

If your baby refuses dried figs

Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
Stir mashed fig into oatmeal or yogurt instead of offering it on its own.
Eat some yourself at the same meal. Babies copy what they see.
Funny faces don't mean they dislike it. They're getting used to a new taste and texture.

Never force or pressure your baby to eat. Some days they'll eat more, some days less, and that's normal.

Buying and storing dried figs

Keep dried figs in an airtight container in a cool, dry cupboard.
Soaked figs and fig mash keep for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge.
Fig mash can be frozen in small portions and used within 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge and use it within 24 hours of thawing. If you warm it, reheat it only once, to 165°F (74°C), until steaming hot, then let it cool before serving.
Throw away any food left out at room temperature for more than 2 hours (1 hour if it's hotter than 90°F / 32°C).

When to talk to your doctor

Contact your pediatrician, GP or health visitor if:

Your baby seems constipated and high-fiber foods aren't helping, constipation lasts more than a week, or you see blood in their poop.
You notice mild signs of an allergic reaction after eating, such as a few hives or a little vomiting. See signs of a reaction.
You're worried about how much your baby eats, their growth, or they refuse most solid food for weeks.

Call 911999your local emergency number (such as 112 in Europe or 000 in Australia) now if your baby has trouble breathing, wheezing, can't cough or cry, has lips, mouth, tongue or throat that suddenly swell, or becomes pale, bluish, floppy or unresponsive. Also call if hives come with repeated vomiting.

Offered dried figs?

Add it to your first 100 foods.

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