When can babies eat prunes?

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

Prunes

Dried plums, soft and sweet once stewed. A fiber-rich fruit to keep on the menu.

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

Quick answer

Babies can eat prunes 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 prunes by age

6 months+

Stewed and mashed or blended

Use pitted prunes. Simmer them in water for about 10 minutes, or soak them in just-boiled water until very soft. Mash or blend with a little of the cooking 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).
Check before serving: The mash should be smooth, with no chewy skin pieces or pits. Squash a stewed prune between your thumb and finger: it should flatten with no effort.

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 prunes

1
Choose pitted prunes with no added sugar. Rinse them in a sieve under running water.
2
Put them in a small pan, cover with water and simmer for about 10 minutes, until very soft. Or soak them in just-boiled water for 15 to 20 minutes.
3
Let them cool. Check each one for pits or pit pieces, even if the pack says pitted.
4
Mash or blend with a little of the cooking water (6 months), or chop into small pieces (9 months+).

How much to offer

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

Common mistakes

Serving dry prunes as they come

Dry prunes 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. Stew or soak prunes until soft, then mash or chop them.

Missing a pit

Pits and pit fragments can turn up in pitted prunes. Check each one with your fingers.

Giving prune juice to a young baby

The AAP says babies under 12 months shouldn't have juice, and whole fruit is better. If your baby is constipated, ask your pediatrician before giving juice.

Using prunes 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 prunes

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 stewing or soaking prunes until soft, then mashing or chopping them, through the toddler years. For constipation, the AAP suggests high-fiber foods such as prunes, 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 offer 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 prunes be a choking hazard for babies?

Dry prunes are a choking hazard: the CDC lists uncooked dried fruit as a food to avoid for young children, and warns against small, sticky foods. Always remove the pit, stew or soak prunes until soft, and mash or chop them. Make sure your child sits down to eat, and stay with them.

Can babies be allergic to prunes?

Prunes 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.

Are prunes healthy for babies?

Prunes are a source of fiber, potassium and vitamin K: about 7 g of fiber, 732 mg of potassium and 60 µg of vitamin K per 100 g. They have only a little iron.

Do prunes help with baby constipation?

They can. The AAP lists prunes among high-fiber foods to offer once your baby is eating solids, and calls them an old standby for constipation. Keep up milk feeds and offer water with meals too. If your baby still seems constipated, get it checked: the AAP says to see your pediatrician if it lasts more than a week or you see blood in the poop, and the NHS says to see a GP and get help early.

Can babies eat prunes every day?

A small amount as part of a varied diet is fine. If your baby's poop becomes very loose, offer less for a few days.

Can I give my baby prune juice?

Babies under 12 months don't need juice: the AAP says infants under 1 shouldn't drink it, and the NHS says they don't need it. Mashed prunes give the fiber that juice lacks. If you're thinking of juice for constipation, ask your pediatrician first.

If your baby refuses prunes

Many babies need 10 or more tries before they accept a new food. Keep offering it alongside foods they already like.
Stir mashed prune 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 prunes

Keep dry prunes in an airtight container in a cool, dry cupboard.
Stewed prunes keep for 3 to 4 days in a covered container in the fridge. Rice dishes are the exception: cool them within 1 hour, keep them in the fridge for no more than 1 day, and reheat them only once.
Prune puree 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 prunes and other 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 prunes?

Add it to your first 100 foods.

Helpful guides

Sources

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