BLW Foods
Pear

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Pear — prep card

Category: fruitChoking risk: medium

6–8 months

Choose a ripe, very soft pear and cut it into wide wedges about the length of your baby's fist, with the skin removed if tough. You can leave a thin strip of skin on one edge to act as a textured grip if the pear is slippery. Alternatively, offer large flat slices that are easy for little hands to hold, or lightly steam firmer pears until they yield easily to gentle pressure.

9–11 months

Offer ripe, soft pear cut into thick strips or pieces roughly the size of two adult fingers. You can leave the skin on if it's thin and soft, as your baby's chewing skills are developing. For round varieties, quarter the pear lengthwise and ensure each piece is soft enough to squash easily between your fingers.

12–24 months

Serve ripe, soft pear cut into bite-sized pieces, ensuring they're small enough to be safe but large enough for your toddler to pick up easily. Continue to halve or quarter round pieces lengthwise for safety. At this age, most toddlers can manage pear with the skin on, provided it's ripe and soft.

Nutrition highlights

Pears provide fibre, which supports healthy digestion and can help prevent constipation in babies. They contain vitamin C, which aids iron absorption and supports immune function, as well as small amounts of potassium and copper. The natural sweetness of pears makes them an appealing early food that can help babies explore different flavours and textures.

Allergen information

Pear is not a common allergen and is generally well tolerated by babies. Some babies with birch pollen allergy may develop oral allergy syndrome to pear, though this is uncommon in infants.

Always supervise meals. Adjust textures to your baby's stage. Medical questions belong with your health professional. Source: babyledweaningfoods.com/foods/pear