10 Summer Fruits That Babies and Toddlers Can Eat

It’s Summer time (in the Northern Hemisphere)! And this is a perfect time to get the whole family in on the fun of seasonal foods— babies and toddlers included. Not only do you get the best, most flavorful produce during this time of the year, but you’re able to support many local farmers and businesses. The abundance of fresh fruits and veggies in the summer make it incredibly easy to put together nutritious and tasty snacks and meals for your growing baby and toddler, as well as the entire family!

Not sure where to start? Read this post to the end to get my list with 10 Summer fruits that babies and toddlers can eat.

DISCLAIMER: Each child has their own development timeline and specific needs. The content below is general information and for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional one-on-one advice. You are responsible for supervising your child’s health and for evaluating the appropriateness of the information below for your child. Please consult your healthcare provider regarding support or advice for your child's well being and health. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read or seen here.

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1. Berries

Berries are generally in season from spring through summer, and some go into fall, but every state will have a slightly different berry season, so check your particular area. They vary in flavors, ranging from sweet, to tart, to bitter. Regardless of their taste, berries are a great addition to littles’ diet.

Why give it to your child: They’re a great source of fiber (which is good for digestion), as well as vitamin C and powerful antioxidants that help keep your tot’s immune system working properly. Since berries are a natural source of carbs, they make an excellent choice for something sweet for babies without added sugar.

How to serve them: Babies and toddlers can enjoy berries in a variety of ways. Berries are a great finger food when cut into sections, or slightly flattened to reduce the risk of choking. You can also mix mashed or pureed berries with unsweetened Greek yogurt for a tangy snack with some extra protein and calcium.

2. Avocados

Avocados can be bought pretty much all year round in the store. It’s in season during Spring, Summer, and Winter. They are rich and creamy and go well with other great foods for babies and toddlers.

Why give it to your child: Avocado is an amazing first food for babies! It is an excellent source of "good" fats that are important nutrients for baby’s brain and physical development.

How to serve them: They are beyond easy to make into a puree, smashed into a chunky puree, sliced into a finger food and cut into a slice with an easy to grip handle for baby-led weaning. Click here to learn more about how to prepare and offer avocados to babies.

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3. Bananas

Bananas are available all year round. This is another perfect fruit to be one of baby’s first foods. They are well known for their potassium content, but they also contain other key nutrients for baby’s growth and development.

Why give it to your child: They contain three natural sources of sugar – sucrose, fructose, and glucose – and are more dense in calories than most other fruits, making them an extremely efficient and sustainable source of instant energy for your growing baby.

How to serve them: Simply peel and mash the banana then offer to your baby by the spoon or in a suction bowl for them to use their hands to scoop. Offer half of a peeled banana or banana slices for older babies and toddlers. Click here to learn more about how to prepare and offer bananas to babies.

4. Apricot

Forget those shriveled, sugary dried fruits; now is the time to buy the real thing! Apricots are in season during Spring and Summer.

Why give it to your child: Fresh apricots are fibrous and full of beta carotene (vitamin A) as well as vitamin C. All that fiber helps keep constipation at bay. Plus, vitamin C, vitamin A, and phytonutrients will keep your baby’s skin glowing.

How to serve them: Offer an apricot mash or puree by the spoon or in a suction bowl. Slice or dice the apricot to offer as a finger food for toddlers and babies who have developed their pincer grasp.

5. Apples

Apples are available all year round. There are more than 8,000 varieties of apples across the world, mostly found in yellow, red and green colors. Each variety has its own nutritional benefits but all of them can be a terrific addition to the diet of little ones.

Why give it to your child: Apples store a variety of vitamins, fiber, carbohydrates, and phytochemicals. They are an excellent source of vitamin C, and potassium. The carbohydrates in an apple are a great source of energy for a growing baby, and the polyphenols in the fruit helps in digestive health.

How to serve them: Apples are listed as a common choking hazard by the CDC's and by five other international groups. To minimize the risk, cook apples until soft (ideally soft enough to smash with your finger but not so soft that it falls apart when your baby tries to pick it up).

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6. Honeydew Melon

During the months of May to September, melons are in season. While available year-round in a supermarket, melons are much more affordable during the summer season. The three most popular melons in America are cantaloupe, watermelon, and honeydew.

Why give it to your child: Melons are high in essential vitamins and minerals, and water content. In fact, a fresh watermelon, cantaloupe, and honeydew contains up to 90 percent water, making them some of the most thirst-quenching snacks around. Melons are good sources of fiber to regulate the digestive tract and vitamin C to strengthen the immune system and reduce inflammation. They also provide potassium to balance fluid levels within the body.

How to serve them: Serving melons is as simple as can be! Make sure the melon is ripe and soft before giving it to your child. Offer it grated or in very thin slices for young babies. Offer bigger slices with the rind around as a delicious finger food for your toddler.

7. Mango

Mangoes are available year-round. The creamy texture, sweet flavor, and bright color of mango make it so attractive for little humans that they tend to want to have it more and more! In addition to sumptuous tropical flavor, mangos deliver nutritional value and make eating a delightful sensory experience.

Why give it to your child: Mango is a good source of fiber, B-vitamins, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and potassium. They also contain natural enzymes that assist in digestion.

How to serve them: Offer your baby a refreshing mango puree. Make mango spears or sticks by slicing mango into strips about the length and width of an adult finger.

8. Cherries

Among commercially-grown fruits, it's common knowledge that cherries are the last trees to bloom and the first to harvest. So for most cherry crops in the area, harvest season starts from mid-April to late July. That's not very long for such a popular fruit!

Why give it to your child: Cherries contain more beta-carotene (a form of vitamin A) than blueberries and strawberries. Hence, they increase a baby’s immunity, make their skin glow and keep their eyes healthy.

How to serve them: Serve only ripe and soft cherries to your child. You may also cook the cherries before giving them to your baby or toddler. Offer it in quarters or mashed to reduce the risk of choking. And make sure to remove the seed before offering it to your little one.

9. Citrus Fruits

Depending on the variety, the month range may fluctuate, but there will always be a type of citrus fruit at its peak. These juicy fruits can be peeled and eaten fresh, or added to a variety of sweet or savory dishes for the whole family.

Why give it to your child: In general, citrus fruits are rich in Vitamin C, Vitamin A, B vitamins, calcium, potassium, magnesium, dietary fiber, antioxidants and more. Getting enough vitamin C helps your child’s body absorb iron, create collagen, and maintain a healthy immune system. Plus, as an antioxidant, vitamin C combats the harmful effects of free radicals, which can damage cells.

How to serve them: Offer citrus wedges as a finger food for your little one to munch on it. Squeeze the citrus juice on top of other foods as a natural seasoning.

10. Plums

Like berries, plums also vary in taste—some are sweet while others are tart. They're available from July through October.

Why give it to your child: Plums offer potassium and vitamins A, C, and K. Together, these essential nutrients support nerve function and build healthy cells, tissue and bones. The fruit also contains antioxidants and soluble fiber, which helps diversify friendly bacteria in the gut, supporting digestion.

How to serve them: Make sure they are ripe and remove the seed. Offer halves or quarters for young babies. For a baby with pincer grasp and for toddlers you may offer sliced or diced plums. And once your toddler gets older and you feel comfortable try offering the whole fruit (supervise as they eat it).

Looking for more resources to help you raise a healthy and happy little eater? Try our FREE FOOD LIBRARY for inspiration of first foods to offer to your baby!

Move Forward with Confident and Joyful Feeding

We always hear parents saying "Eat your veggies!", but don’t forget about fruit! Many fruits are easy to mash, dice and mix into child-friendly preparations, plus they provide important vitamins and nutrients babies and toddlers need to grow strong and healthy.

Introducing a variety of fruits to your little one can help prevent them from becoming a picky eater down the road (yes, this makes you a mom genius!) and it also fuels them with important nutrients for their growing body (another genius point for you!).

Happy Eating & Feeding,

As always, discuss any concerns with your healthcare provider. This post and this site is not meant to be a substitute for medical advice. The materials and services provided by this site are for informational purposes only.