Lemon
Usually introduced around 6 months
Prep warning
Always remove lemon seeds before serving. Lemon is highly acidic and can irritate the skin around the mouth or the diaper area; wipe your baby's face after eating and offer it in small amounts.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Lemon is very tart, so it is usually a flavoring rather than a food on its own. Squeeze a little juice into purees, plain yogurt, or cooked vegetables, or stir a small amount of finely grated zest into a dish. Remove all seeds first and wipe baby's face afterward, since the acidity can redden delicate skin.
A few drops of seedless juice or a little finely grated zest stirred into food.
9-12 months
Keep using lemon as a flavoring. A little juice over fish, beans, or vegetables, or zest folded into yogurt and baked goods, adds brightness. Whole raw segments are too sour and stringy for most babies, so stick with juice and zest. Continue removing seeds and wiping the face after.
Seedless juice or finely grated zest mixed into other foods; not raw segments.
12-18 months
Lemon stays a flavoring at this age. Juice in dressings, sauces, and over cooked dishes, or zest in baked goods, works well. If your toddler wants to try a small piece of peeled, seedless flesh, expect a pucker; keep pieces small and soft. Limit very acidic foods if you notice mouth or diaper-area irritation.
Juice and zest in dishes; any flesh peeled, seeded, and in small soft pieces.
Key nutrients
Common questions
When can my baby eat Lemon?
Most babies can try Lemon from around 6 months, once they show signs of readiness. Check the prep and cut-size notes above before you start.
General informational content, not medical advice. Always consult your pediatrician about introducing new foods, especially if your baby has any medical conditions or family history of allergies.
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