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Select very ripe, soft feijoas that yield gently to pressure. Cut the fruit in half lengthwise and offer one half at a time as a large handle, allowing your baby to suck and gnaw on the soft flesh. Alternatively, scoop out the flesh and spread it on a preloaded spoon or mix it into porridge or yoghurt to help your baby practise scooping.
Continue to offer ripe, soft feijoa halves that your baby can hold and bite from, or cut the flesh into thick strips or wide pieces that are easy to grasp with developing pincer grip. If the feijoa is small and round, quarter it lengthwise to reduce any risk. You can also scoop out the flesh and serve it in a bowl for spoon practice or mix it into other foods.
Offer bite-sized pieces of ripe, soft feijoa that your toddler can pick up independently with their fingers or a fork. Continue to halve or quarter small round feijoas lengthwise for safety until your child is confidently chewing all foods. At this age, you can also serve feijoa halves with a spoon so your toddler can scoop out the flesh themselves.
Feijoa is rich in vitamin C, which supports immune function and helps the body absorb iron from other foods your baby eats. This fruit also provides dietary fibre to support healthy digestion and contains folate, which is important for growth and development. The naturally sweet flavour can help introduce babies to new tastes whilst providing beneficial nutrients.
Feijoa is not a common allergen and reactions are rare. As with any new food, introduce feijoa on its own and watch for signs of a reaction, though these are uncommon with this fruit.
Always supervise meals. Adjust textures to your baby's stage. Medical questions belong with your health professional. Source: babyledweaningfoods.com/foods/feijoa