When can babies eat grapes?

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

Grapes

Sweet and juicy, and always cut into quarters, top to bottom.

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

Quick answer

Babies can eat grapes 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 grapes by age

6 months+

Quartered lengthwise and flattened, or finely chopped

Use seedless grapes, or take out every seed. Peeling makes them easier to swallow for young babies. Cut each grape lengthwise into quarters, then press each quarter flat with your finger. Or chop them finely and stir into a food your baby already eats, like iron-fortified cereal or plain full-fat yogurt (once dairy has been introduced on its own).

Size: Each grape cut lengthwise (top to bottom) into quarters (4 small pieces), then pressed flat. Or chopped finely and stirred into a soft food.
Check before serving: Check the plate before serving: every grape should be in quarters or finely chopped, with no round pieces or seeds left, and each piece should squash easily between your thumb and finger.

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 grapes

1
Rinse the grapes under running water, gently rubbing them, then pat them dry with a clean cloth or paper towel.
2
Pull them off the stems. Choose seedless grapes, or cut them open and take out every seed.
3
Cut each grape in half from top to bottom, then cut each half from top to bottom again, to make 4 long quarters.
4
For young babies, peel them first if you like, and press each quarter flat. Check the plate for any pieces you missed.

How much to offer

Start with a few grapes, quartered and flattened. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth. Lots of squashing and dropping is normal at first.

Common mistakes

Serving grapes whole

Whole grapes are round, smooth and firm, the kind of food that can block a child's airway. Never give whole grapes to a baby or toddler: always cut them into quarters, top to bottom.

Cutting them in half

Halves are still large and round. Cut each grape into 4 long quarters.

Cutting them across into round slices

Round slices keep the shape that blocks airways. Always cut from top to bottom.

Stopping too soon

The AAP advises keeping round, firm foods like grapes away from children until about 4 years, unless they're cut into small pieces. UK early years guidance for under-5s also says to cut them lengthways and into quarters.

Where US and UK guidance differ on grapes

United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting

No juice under 12 months (AAP). From 1 to 3 years, if you offer juice, give only 100% fruit juice, no more than 4 oz (120 ml) a day, in a cup. The AAP advises cooking most fruit until soft before 12 months, except mashed banana, so if you follow US advice, chop grapes finely or mash them into a soft food. Keep cutting grapes into small pieces until about 4 years (AAP).

United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting

Babies under 12 months don't need juice. If you do give it, dilute it (1 part juice to 10 parts water) and serve it with meals. From age 5, undiluted juice is fine, but no more than 1 small glass (about 150 ml) a day, with a meal (NHS). UK early years guidance for under-5s says to cut grapes lengthways and into quarters.

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

Questions parents ask

Can grapes be a choking hazard for babies?

Whole grapes are a serious choking hazard for young children: the CDC lists uncut grapes as foods to avoid, and the AAP lists whole grapes as a high-risk food. A grape is round, smooth and firm, the shape that can block a child's airway. Always cut grapes lengthwise into quarters, check the plate for any round pieces, make sure your child sits down to eat, and stay with them.

Can babies be allergic to grapes?

Grapes are not a common allergen.

Are grapes healthy for babies?

Grapes give some potassium and vitamin K: about 191 mg of potassium and 15 µg of vitamin K per 100 g (about ⅔ cup). They have little fiber, vitamin C or iron.

How should I cut grapes for a baby or toddler?

Cut each grape in half from top to bottom, then cut each half from top to bottom again, to make 4 long quarters. For young babies, you can also peel them and press the quarters flat.

At what age can a child eat whole grapes?

Not in the baby or toddler years. The AAP advises keeping round, firm foods like grapes away from children until about 4 years, depending on the child, unless they're cut into small pieces. UK early years guidance covers children up to 5.

Can babies drink grape juice?

Babies don't need juice, and whole fruit is better. The AAP says no juice before 12 months. The NHS says babies under 12 months don't need it, and if you do give it, dilute it (1 part juice to 10 parts water) and serve it with meals.

Can babies eat raisins?

Not whole. Raisins are dried grapes: small, sticky and chewy. The CDC lists uncooked dried fruit, such as raisins, as a choking hazard for young children, and the NHS says not to give whole raisins to babies under 1 and to cut them into small pieces. If you use them, soak or cook them until soft, chop them, and stir them into a meal like oatmeal. The NHS says to give dried fruit with meals, not as a snack, because the sugar can cause tooth decay.

If your baby refuses grapes

Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
If the skin bothers your baby, peel the grapes before quartering them.
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 grapes

Keep fresh grapes in the fridge, at or below 40°F (4°C).
Cut grapes keep for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge.
Don't give frozen grapes to babies or toddlers, even quartered: frozen pieces are hard.
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 grapes?

Add it to your first 100 foods.

Helpful guides

Sources

More first foods

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Apricot

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