Kiwi
Bright green, soft and tangy when it's ripe.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Babies can eat kiwi from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.
How to serve kiwi by age
6 months+
Peeled wedges or mashed
Peel a ripe kiwi and cut it lengthwise into wedges. It's slippery, so you can also mash it and serve it on a pre-loaded spoon.
- Size
- Wedges about the size of an adult finger, roughly 6–8 cm long and 2 cm wide (2½–3 × ¾ in), or mashed.
- Check before serving
- Squash a wedge between your thumb and finger. Ripe kiwi should crush easily. If it's firm, wait until it softens.
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.
9 months+
Small soft pieces
Cut ripe, peeled kiwi into small pieces for pincer-grasp practice. Too slippery? Once oats have been introduced on their own, roll the pieces in finely ground oats.
- Size
- Pieces no bigger than about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Each piece should squash flat between your thumb and finger.
12 months+
Small pieces or in dishes
Offer small pieces of ripe, peeled kiwi on their own, stirred into plain yogurt (once dairy has been introduced), or in fruit salad.
- Size
- Pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch).
- Check before serving
- Still do the squash test. Firm, under-ripe kiwi can break into hard chunks.
18 months+
Pieces, quartered slices or in dishes
Offer ripe, peeled kiwi as a snack or in fruit salad. Make sure your toddler sits down to eat, and stay with them.
- Size
- Bite-sized pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), or thin slices cut into quarters so they aren't round.
- Check before serving
- Still do the squash test, and check that the pale center is soft too.
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 kiwi
- 1
Rinse the kiwi under running water before peeling, so germs on the skin aren't carried onto the fruit.
- 2
Cut off both ends and peel off the fuzzy skin with a knife or vegetable peeler. Or cut it in half and scoop out the flesh with a spoon.
- 3
Cut wedges (6 months) or small pieces (9 months+), and do the squash test.
- 4
First time? Pick a day your baby is well, at home, when you can watch them for a couple of hours afterward.
How much to offer
For the first taste, offer a small amount: one wedge or a teaspoon of mash. If there's no reaction, offer more next time. Your baby decides how much to eat: stop when they turn away or close their mouth.
Common mistakes
Leaving the skin on
The fuzzy skin is tough for babies to chew. Peel it off.
Using hard, unripe kiwi
Firm kiwi is hard to gum and can break off in chunks. Wait until it gives when you press it gently.
Offering a big portion the first time
Some children react to kiwi. Start with a small amount, and watch your baby afterward.
Giving up because it's slippery
Mash it onto a pre-loaded spoon, or roll pieces in finely ground oats once oats have been introduced on their own.
Where US and UK guidance differ on kiwi
United States(AAP and CDC)Your setting
The AAP advises cooking most fruit until soft before 12 months, except mashed banana, and lists fruit chunks among foods to avoid under 1. If you follow US advice, mash ripe kiwi.
United Kingdom(NHS)Your setting
The NHS suggests slices of soft fruit as finger foods from around 6 months. Use only ripe kiwi that passes the squash test.
We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.
Questions parents ask
Can kiwi be a choking hazard for babies?
Ripe, peeled kiwi is a low choking risk. Avoid firm, unripe kiwi, which can break into hard chunks. Stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to kiwi?
Kiwi is not one of the top US allergens or on the NHS allergen list, but some children are allergic to it. Most reactions are in the mouth, such as itching or swelling, but in a UK study of people with suspected kiwi allergy, young children were more likely than adults to react the first time they ate it, and to have severe symptoms. In older children and adults with birch pollen allergy (hay fever), raw kiwi can also cause an itchy mouth, called pollen food allergy syndrome. People with a latex allergy are more likely to react to kiwi, banana and avocado: if your baby has a latex allergy, ask your pediatrician before offering kiwi. Offer a small amount the first time, when you can watch your baby.
Is kiwi healthy for babies?
Rich in vitamin C: 100 g of green kiwi has about 93 mg. It also has vitamin K, potassium and fiber (about 3 g per 100 g).
Can babies eat kiwi skin?
Peel it for babies and young toddlers. The fuzzy skin is tough to chew.
Can babies eat golden kiwi?
Yes. Prepare it the same way: ripe, soft and peeled.
If your baby refuses kiwi
- Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
- Kiwi is tangy. Try small pieces mixed with a fruit your baby already likes, such as banana.
- 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 kiwi
- Keep cut kiwi in a covered container in the fridge, at 40°F (4°C) or below.
- Peeled kiwi turns soft and mushy quickly, so cut it shortly 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 has a known latex allergy. People with a latex allergy are more likely to react to kiwi, banana and avocado, so ask before offering kiwi.
- Your baby seems to get an itchy mouth after eating kiwi. Stop offering it until you've talked to your pediatrician. If their lips, mouth, tongue or throat suddenly swell, or they have trouble breathing, call your emergency number.
- 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.
Add a note (likes, dislikes, any reaction)
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Helpful guides
Sources
- AAAAI: Latex allergy
- Lucas et al.: Kiwi fruit is a significant allergen and is associated with differing patterns of reactivity in children and adults (2004)
- NHS: Food allergies in babies and young children
- CDC: Choking hazards
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- AAP: When can babies start solid foods?
- ACAAI: Pollen food allergy syndrome
- FDA: Selecting and serving produce safely
- USDA FoodData Central: Kiwifruit, green, raw
- NHS: Anaphylaxis
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
More first foods
Free printable: The First 100 Foods checklist
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