Papaya for baby? Definitely! Introducing a variety of foods to your baby is so important in their first year, and while papaya might not be the first food you try, it’s a great choice to include once they’re ready for new flavors. With its sweet, tropical taste and smooth, creamy texture, papaya is easy for little ones to enjoy.
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Looking for a slightly less traditional fruit to introduce to your baby? Look no further than papaya!
After you check off the more conventional first foods for baby – apple, sweet potato, and broccoli – papaya is a great addition to your baby’s growing list of foods.
While you can serve papaya as a simple puree, both of my babies found they loved it even more when paired with yogurt to add some creaminess, either mixed into the puree or as a dip for a slice of fresh papaya. For baby-led weaning, the best option is to start with a bigger piece of papaya so they can use their palmer grasp to fist it as they gnaw on it. As your baby’s pincer grasp develops, you can use smaller pieces of papaya for them to pick up by themselves. Over the years, I found that it helps to roll some of these smaller pieces of the slipper fruit in some hemp seeds, ground coconut, baby cereal or flax seeds.
First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading our very in-depth guides – Guide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food if you are starting with purees, or this Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning if you decide to do baby-led weaning from the get-go. And be sure to check out my best-selling cookbook, Little Foodie: Baby Food Recipes for Babies and Toddlers with Taste for even more information and recipes!
Papaya Baby Puree
- 2 cups papaya chunks, peeled and deseeded
- 1/2 tsp fresh lime juice (optional)
Papaya Baby-Led Weaning
- 2 slices fresh papaya peeled and deseeded
- 1/4 tsp fresh lime juice (optional)
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Papaya Baby-Led Weaning
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Cut to desired size and squeeze with lime. 6+ Months – Large Slices, Mashed or Puree: It’s best to serve larger strips of papaya – roughly 2-3″ long so baby can have an easier time picking up the papaya with their palmar grasp. If serving mashed or pureed, give your baby a preloaded spoon to self-feed.9+ months – Chopped: You can chop papaya into bite-sized pieces for your baby to pick up or serve on a preloaded fork. If your baby still has a hard time picking up pieces, you can roll the pieces in chia seeds, hemp seeds, or shredded coconut to help them grasp it.