Grapes are an amazingly powerful source of essential nutrients and minerals, making them perfect for boosting eye health, immune function, digestion and so much more! They are however a choking hazard until your kiddos are 4 years old. In this guide, learn how to serve grapes safely for babies and toddlers as a baby food puree or for baby-led weaning starting at 6+ months.
Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Grape Baby Food
Sweet, juicy, refreshing, nutritious – we could go on and on about all the health benefits grapes have to offer. Grapes may be little in size, but they pack a powerful punch with many essential vitamins and nutrients, including vitamin C and vitamin K, as well as being a good source of carbohydrates for busy, growing bodies.
I bet you’re wondering – how do I safely serve grapes to my baby or toddler? Then this guide on how to offer grapes for baby is just for you!
Below, you will find everything you need to know about cutting and serving grapes to your little one—the health benefits, how to serve grapes for baby-led weaning or as a puree, how to store these recipes, FAQs, and so much more!
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!
Benefits of Grapes for Baby
There’s many good reasons to love grapes and include them in your baby’s diet, including:
- They are packed with antioxidants anthocyanins, resveratrol, and quercetin to help prevent free radical damage.
- Grapes are a good source of carbohyrdates, our body’s main source of energy.
- They help support bone health with the help of vitamin K.
- Grapes have vitamin C to help support immune health and help with iron absorption.
How to Pick Grapes
Here are a couple of pointers on how to pick the best grapes:
- Texture: Avoid wrinkled or sticky grapes and those on withered or limp stems.
- Color: Choose grapes without discoloration: red grapes should be a rich crimson color; green grapes a light, translucent green; and purple grapes a deep purple, almost black color.
Types of Grapes
Which type of grapes should you choose? Here are some things to consider:
- Red or Purple: these types of grapes may increase the number of flavonoids and phytonutrients that you’re consuming, due to the nutrients found in their darker skin. Red and purple grapes are often sweeter than green grapes.
- Green: these grapes are a great source of vitamins C and K. Green grapes, although still sweet, may taste a little more sour than red grapes.
Frequently Asked Questions
You can introduce grapes to your baby when they show all signs of readiness to begin solids, usually around 6 months of age.
Yes, grapes are one of the most common choking hazards. Cut grapes lengthwise in quarters to reduce the risk and always supervise baby while eating.
No, grapes are not a common allergen, but as always when introducing a new food, be aware of signs of an allergic reaction.
No, in fact they may help alleviate constipation with their water and fiber content.
Tools Needed
These tools will make it a lot easier for you to serve grapes to your baby. For more of my favorite kitchen tools, make sure to check out my shop.
Grape Baby Puree
To make a yummy grape baby puree, mash grapes well and mix with yogurt or place in a blender for a smoother puree.
Grapes for Baby-Led Weaning
Grapes are a great first food for your baby and an excellent source of healthy carbohydrates. Make sure to prepare grapes appropriately for babies and toddlers to minimize choking risks.
- 6+ months – Quartered lengthwise: Since grapes are a very common choking hazard due to their shape, choose oblong grapes and quarter or cut them lengthwise and remove any seeds. Babies at 6 months probably will have a hard time picking them up since their pincer grasp has not yet developed so you can also serve them mashed and mixed into other foods like yogurt or cottage cheese. At around 9 months of age, your baby’s pincer grasp starts to develop, and it will be easier for them to pick it up.
- 12-24+ months – Quartered lengthwise or halved lengthwise: Since grapes are a very common choking hazard due to their shape, choose oblong grapes and quarter or halve them lengthwise and remove any seeds. You may cut them in half if you feel your child is ready.
- 4+ years – Quartered lengthwise: It is recommended to hold off on offering whole grapes until after 4 years of age to reduce choking risk so continue to cut grapes.
How Not to Cut Grapes
Grapes are an extremely common choking hazard since they are round and slippery, widely eaten, and can be challenging to chew. It is NOT recommended to serve grapes whole or cut in half, widthwise to babies or toddlers younger than 4 years. To minimize choking risks, serve grapes quartered or halved lengthwise (from stem to bottom) and remove any seeds before serving. You can choose to leave the skin on or remove it.
Storage Instructions
Grape Puree
Refrigerator
You can store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Freezer
This puree can be frozen for up to 4 months.
- Spoon puree into a freezer storage container – do not overfill.
- Place the lid on the storage container or cover it with a piece of saran wrap and label it with the date and recipe name.
- Place the tray into the freezer and let freeze completely – preferably overnight.
- Pop out the baby food cubes and place them in a zip-lock baggie or stasher bag – don’t forget to re-label the baggie or stasher bag for future reference.
Expert Feeding Tips
- Choose dark red or purple grapes over green grapes for more antioxidants.
- It is not necessary to remove the skin on grapes but if it makes you nervous, feel free to take it off.
- It is recommended to hold off on serving whole grapes until 4 years of age.
- Wash grapes well before serving to remove any dirt and debris.
Grapes for Baby-Led Weaning
Grapes Baby Puree
- 1/4 cup grapes, washed
- 1/4 cup plain whole milk yogurt or cottage cheese
Prevent your screen from going dark
Grapes for Baby-Led Weaning
Yield: 2-3 small portions for baby
How to Cut:
- 6+ months – Quartered lengthwise: Since grapes are a very common choking hazard due to their shape, choose oblong grapes and quarter or cut them lengthwise and remove any seeds. Babies at 6 months probably will have a hard time picking them up since their pincer grasp has not yet developed so you can also serve them mashed and mixed into other foods like yogurt or cottage cheese. At around 9 months of age, your baby’s pincer grasp starts to develop, and it will be easier for them to pick it up.
- 12-24+ months – Quartered lengthwise or halved lengthwise: Since grapes are a very common choking hazard due to their shape, choose oblong grapes and quarter or halve them lengthwise and remove any seeds. You may cut them in half if you feel your child is ready.
- 4+ years – Quartered lengthwise: It is recommended to hold off on offering whole grapes until after 4 years of age to reduce choking risk so continue to cut grapes.
Puree for Self-Feeding: Yes, it can be done! You can offer purees and still allow your baby to lead the way with self-feeding.
- Place a few spoonfuls of purees directly on the tray or in a bowl for your baby to dip fingers into. Model how to dip your fingers into the puree and bring them to your mouth, to taste some.
- Offer your baby a pre-loaded self-feeding utensil and hold it out for them to grasp or set on their tray.
- Use a solid food as a dipper. You can also offer a soft stick-shaped piece of food, such as a soft roasted carrot or bread lightly toasted and cut into strips to dip into the puree.