Papaya
Soft, sunset-orange and naturally sweet. Ripe papaya is ready to squish.
Checked against official guidance on October 18, 2026 · How we review
Quick answer
Babies can eat papaya from around 6 months, once they show signs of being ready for solids. Prepare it as shown below.
How to serve papaya by age
6 months+
Ripe peeled spears or mash
Cut a ripe papaya in half, scoop out all the seeds, peel it, and slice the flesh into thick spears. Or mash it and serve it on a pre-loaded spoon. Use only ripe, soft papaya.
- Size
- Peeled spears 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 spear between your thumb and finger. It should flatten easily. If you have to press hard, it isn't ripe yet.
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 papaya 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, with no seeds.
12 months+
Soft pieces or in dishes
Offer small pieces of ripe papaya on their own, in fruit salad with other soft fruit, or stirred into oatmeal or plain yogurt.
- Size
- Small pieces about 1 cm (just under ½ inch), or thin slices.
- Check before serving
- Still do the squash test, and check that no seeds are left.
18 months+
Pieces, slices or in dishes
Serve ripe papaya as a snack, in fruit salads, or alongside family meals. 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.
- Check before serving
- Check for seeds and any firm, under-ripe pieces.
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 papaya
- 1
Choose a papaya with mostly yellow or orange skin that gives a little when you press it gently.
- 2
Rinse it under running water, gently rubbing the skin, and dry it before cutting.
- 3
Cut it in half lengthwise and scoop out all the black seeds and the stringy bits with a spoon.
- 4
Peel it, then slice the flesh into thick spears (6 months) or small pieces (9 months+). Don't add sugar.
How much to offer
Start with one or two soft spears, or a teaspoon or two of mash. 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 firm, under-ripe papaya
Unripe papaya is hard and harder to gum. Wait until it's soft and passes the squash test.
Leaving seeds in
Scoop out every seed. The NHS says to always remove hard pips from fruit.
Leaving the skin on
Papaya skin is tough. Peel it off before serving.
Choosing dried or candied papaya
Dried papaya is chewy, and the CDC lists uncooked dried fruit as a choking hazard. Candied papaya also has added sugar, which the CDC says isn't recommended for young children. Use fresh, ripe papaya.
Where US and UK guidance differ on papaya
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 papaya or steam it until soft.
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. Use only ripe papaya that passes the squash test, peeled and with every seed removed.
We cover US and UK guidance in detail. Elsewhere, check your national health service's advice too.
Questions parents ask
Can papaya be a choking hazard for babies?
Ripe, soft papaya is easy for babies to manage. Firm, under-ripe papaya and seeds are the main problems: the NHS says to always remove hard pips from fruit. Peel it, scoop out every seed, use only papaya that squashes easily between your fingers, and stay with your child during meals.
Can babies be allergic to papaya?
Papaya is not a common allergen. People with a latex allergy can also react to some foods, and ACAAI lists papaya among them, along with banana, avocado and kiwi. If your child has a latex allergy, talk to your pediatrician before offering papaya.
Is papaya healthy for babies?
A source of vitamin C (about 61 mg per 100 g) and folate (about 37 µg per 100 g), with a little fiber. Vitamin C helps the body absorb the iron in plant foods, such as beans, lentils and iron-fortified cereal.
Can babies eat papaya seeds?
No. Scoop out all the seeds before serving. The NHS and UK early years guidance both say to remove pips from fruit.
Can babies eat papaya every day?
A small amount as part of a varied diet is fine. Offering lots of different fruits and vegetables helps your baby get used to new tastes and textures.
If your baby refuses papaya
- Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
- Try a different form: mash instead of spears, or papaya stirred into oatmeal or yogurt.
- 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 papaya
- Ripen a firm papaya at room temperature. Once ripe, keep it in the fridge, at 40°F (4°C) or below.
- Keep cut papaya in a covered container in the fridge, and prepare pieces shortly before serving.
- Papaya mash can be frozen and used within 3 months. Thaw it in the fridge and use it within 24 hours of thawing. Don't give frozen pieces to a baby: they're 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:
- Your child has a latex allergy, or gets an itchy mouth or hives after eating papaya. Ask about latex-fruit allergy before offering it again. If there's swelling of the lips, face or tongue, breathing trouble or repeated vomiting, call your emergency number instead (see below).
- 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.
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Helpful guides
Sources
- CDC: Choking hazards
- AAP: When can babies start solid foods?
- NHS: Your baby's first solid foods
- NHS: Preparing food safely for babies
- UK Department for Education: Food safety in early years settings
- ACAAI: Latex allergy
- USDA FoodData Central: Papayas, raw
- NIH Office of Dietary Supplements: Vitamin C
- USDA FSIS: Leftovers and food safety
- AAP: Is it OK to make my own baby food?
- NHS Best Start in Life: Storing and reheating food
More first foods
Free printable: The First 100 Foods checklist
Tick off foods as your baby tries them. Print it or save it as a PDF, no sign-up needed.