How to serve, by age
6–8 mo
Peel, steam until soft, and mash into a coarse purée, or scrape the cooked flesh with a spoon.
9–11 mo
Steamed-soft strips and small pieces your baby can pick up and gnaw independently.
12 mo+
Very thin raw slices — thin enough to see light through — or keep serving cooked-soft pieces. No hard chunks of raw apple.
Choking risk: Moderate
Raw apple is crisp, hard and breaks into firm fragments — a familiar choking culprit. Before age 1 it arrives steamed soft; after that, raw apple only as see-through shavings, with someone watching.
If choking ever happens: act immediately — call emergency services (911 in the US) and seek emergency care. Do not wait.
Allergens
Apple is not among the eight most common food allergens (milk, egg, peanut, tree nuts, soy, wheat, fish, shellfish). Any food can cause a reaction in principle — introduce new foods one at a time, during the day, and watch your baby.
Common questions
- The apple purée turned brown — still edible?
- Cut apple browns from contact with air; this is normal and does not affect the food. Make it fresh if the color bothers you.
- Can my baby drink apple juice?
- No juice before age 1 — purée or soft pieces instead (see Fruit Juice).
Practical tips
- Mealy varieties like Red Delicious steam and scrape down softest.
- Leave a little texture in steamed apple to build chewing.
Sources
This page is general guidance assembled from the public sources above. It is not medical advice. For questions about your baby — including allergies, prematurity and any health condition — ask your pediatrician. See our medical disclaimer.