When can babies eat fig?

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

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Fig

Jammy and sweet inside. Ripe fresh figs squash easily; dried ones need soaking first.

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

Quick answer

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

From 6 monthsMedium choking risk as servedNot a common allergen

How to serve fig by age

6 months+

Ripe peeled quarters or mash

Cut the stem off a ripe, soft fresh fig, peel it, and cut it lengthwise into quarters. Offer them as finger food, or mash the flesh and serve it on a pre-loaded spoon. Dried figs need soaking and mashing first: see the FAQ below. Never give a whole dried fig.

Size: Peeled quarters of a ripe fresh fig, cut lengthwise, about 4–6 cm (1½–2½ in) long, or mashed.
Check before serving: Squash a quarter between your thumb and finger. It should flatten easily. If it feels firm, wait until it's riper.

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 fig

1
For fresh figs, choose ones that feel soft when you press them gently. Rinse them under running water and pat them dry.
2
Cut off the stem, peel the fig, and cut it lengthwise into quarters (6 months) or small pieces (9 months+).
3
For dried figs, choose plain ones with no added sugar. Cut off the hard stem tip, cover them with just-boiled water and soak for 10 to 15 minutes, until very soft.
4
Mash or blend soaked figs with a little of the soaking water (6 months), or chop them finely (9 months+), and mix into a moist food.

How much to offer

Start with one or two soft pieces of fresh fig, or a teaspoon of mashed soaked 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 NHS says not to give whole dried fruit to babies under 1, and the CDC lists uncooked dried fruit as a choking hazard. Soak them until soft, then mash or chop them.

Leaving the hard stem on

The stem and the tip of a dried fig are tough. Cut them off before serving.

Offering fig rolls or fig bars

These are cookies with added sugar, and the CDC lists cookies as a choking hazard for young children. Use plain fresh or soaked dried figs instead.

Using dried 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.

Where US and UK guidance differ on fig

United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting

For babies under 1, the AAP says that apart from mashed banana, most fruits should be cooked until soft, and it lists fruit chunks among foods to avoid under 1. If you follow US advice, mash ripe fresh fig or simmer the pieces until soft. Dried figs are always soaked until soft first.

United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting

The NHS lists slices of soft fruit, such as peach, melon and banana, as finger foods from around 6 months, and suggests removing the skin. Use only ripe fresh fig that passes the squash test. The NHS says not to give whole dried fruit to babies under 1.

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

Questions parents ask

Can fig be a choking hazard for babies?

Ripe fresh figs are soft, but 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. Peel fresh figs and cut them to the size for your baby's stage. Soak dried figs until soft, cut off the hard stem, 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 fig?

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, so check the label if your child has reacted to sulfites before.

Is fig healthy for babies?

Fresh figs give fiber and potassium: about 2.9 g of fiber and 232 mg of potassium per 100 g. Dried figs are more concentrated, with about 9.8 g of fiber, 162 mg of calcium and 2 mg of iron per 100 g, but babies eat them only a spoonful at a time.

Can babies eat dried figs?

Yes, softened first. The CDC lists uncooked dried fruit as a choking hazard, and the NHS says not to give whole dried fruit to babies under 1 and to always cut dried fruit into small pieces. Cut off the stem, soak them in just-boiled water until very soft, then mash or blend them (6 months) or chop them finely (9 months+).

Can figs help with constipation?

Figs contain fiber, especially dried figs. The NHS says plenty of fruit and vegetables, which are a good source of fiber, and enough to drink can help prevent constipation in children. If you think your child is constipated, talk to your pediatrician or GP.

Do I need to peel figs for my baby?

Peeling fresh figs is a good idea for babies and young toddlers. The NHS says taking the skin off fruit makes it easier to swallow, especially for very young children.

If your baby refuses fig

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 fig

Keep ripe fresh figs in the fridge, at 40°F (4°C) or below, and refrigerate any cut fig.
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.
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:

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 fig?

Add it to your first 100 foods.

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