Pear
Usually introduced around 6 months
Prep warning
Pear browns quickly once cut. Serve it soon after preparing, or toss the pieces with a little breast milk, water, or citrus to slow the browning.
Choking notes
Raw pear is a firm fruit and a recognised choking hazard, like raw apple. Cook or steam it until soft, or grate it finely, before about age 4. Only serve raw pieces if the pear is very ripe and squishes easily between your fingers. Always peel it for younger babies.
How to serve by age
6-9 months
Raw pear is firm and a common choking food, so start by cooking or steaming peeled pear until a fork slides through with no resistance, then mash it smooth or offer soft finger-length batons. A very ripe, soft pear that squishes easily between your fingers can be served raw, peeled, and mashed or finely grated.
Cooked soft and mashed or in finger-length batons; or very ripe raw, peeled, mashed or finely grated.
9-12 months
Keep cooking firmer pear soft and serving it in small soft pieces. Only offer raw pear if it is very ripe and squishes easily, peeled and in small soft pieces or finely grated. Avoid raw, firm pear cubes or sticks, which stay a choking risk.
Cooked-soft small pieces; raw only if very ripe, peeled, in small soft pieces or finely grated.
12-18 months
Soft-cook firmer pear into small pieces, or grate raw pear finely. Only serve raw pear in pieces if it is very ripe and soft. Firm raw pear is still a choking risk without back molars, so keep cooking or grating it.
Soft-cooked small pieces or finely grated raw; raw pieces only when very ripe and soft.
Key nutrients
Common questions
When can my baby eat Pear?
Most babies can try Pear 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.
Track Pear and every first food in nappi
Log solids, watch for reactions, and get reminders to reintroduce new foods. Free to try.