Avocado for Baby (puree & baby-led weaning)
Learn how to prepare avocado for baby in 4 delicious and easy ways! As yummy superfoods, avocados are ideal as the first food for babies – 6 months and up. Serve them as a baby food puree, mashed, or as finger food for baby-led weaning.
Medically reviewed by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).
Avocado Baby Food
Avocados 🥑 are one of my all-time favorite foods for babies!
Whether you are making all of your baby food or have tapped out in life and only want to make one homemade recipe for your baby, avocados would be my first and only recommendation.
Besides being affordable and easy to find, avocados are among the top healthiest foods for babies, if not the number one. You can easily have them blended into a smooth puree, smashed into a chunky puree, sliced into finger food, and cut into pieces with an easy-to-grip handle for baby-led weaning.
So, no matter what style of feeding you are doing with your little one, avocados have got you covered. 👍
Plus, after you are done making your baby an easy avocado meal, you can also slice some for your own snack! And in my opinion, every time avocado is involved in a meal; the day just gets better.
First time making homemade baby food? Then, I would suggest that you start by reading my very in-depth Guide on how to Make Homemade Baby Food – which goes over all the important information such as the best cooking tools to have on hand, safe storage, how to know when baby is ready for solids, how to introduce purees, the best first foods for baby, and more! If you are doing Baby-Led Weaning, then be sure to check out my Complete Guide to Baby-Led Weaning – which covers what exactly is baby-led weaning, to every parent’s concern of baby-led weaning and choking, this guide goes over it all. I will also share how to know when baby is ready for BLW, the top 10 best first foods, a helpful sample blw feeding schedule, helpful tools to have on hand, and much much more!
Want more information? Then make sure to check out my best-selling cookbook for even more information and recipes!
Avocado for Baby Video
Watch this video to see how easy it is to serve avocado to your baby!
Top Reasons to Serve Avocado to Baby
- Avocados are beyond healthy for babies – they contain healthy fats that help your baby’s brain grow!
- They are fast – you can make and serve avocado to your baby in 30 seconds flat!
- They work for all feeding styles — puree, chunky puree, finger food, or baby-led weaning. How versatile!
Benefits of Avocado for Baby
Avocados are one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet, and I’m not exaggerating!
- Super Nutritious – Avocados are full of 20 different vitamins and minerals, most notably vitamin K, folate, vitamin C, potassium, vitamin E, magnesium, and vitamins B-5 and B-6, along with a good amount of fiber and heart-healthy fats.
- Health Benefits – They improve heart health, support eye, skin, and hair health, fight cancer cell growth, enhance digestive health, boost one’s mood, keep the nervous system healthy, provide healthy fats for brain growth, and are good for gross motor skills.
- Boosts Immunity – Avocados are loaded with antioxidants, anti-inflammation, and antimicrobial properties, which help prevent your baby from getting sick.
Ingredients
- Avocado: you will need half of ripe avocado for these recipes. Because avocados don’t keep well, I recommend making these recipes on-demand so the puree or solid food is fresh and free of any browning.
- Spices or Herbs: you can certainly add in a pinch of spice or herbs to your avocado puree. A pinch of freshly chopped cilantro, chives, parlsey, or mint would be tasty or you could add in a pinch of garlic powder, cumin, paprika, mild chili powder or a squeeze of lemor or lime juice.
Avocado Picking Tip: when shopping for an avocado, you want one that is darker in color and yields to firm gentle pressure. A ripe avocado will feel soft to the touch but not “mushy” when you press on it. You can store unripened avocados in the fridge until you are ready for them. You will want to take them out of the fridge and place them on the counter 1-2 days before you need them.
Tools Needed
- highchair
- suction bowl or baby bowl
- baby spoon
- open lid cup
- bib with catch pocket
- sleeved bib
- splat mat to cover the floor
- knives
- blender or food processor
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you’re starting your baby on purees or are doing baby-led weaning, avocados are a wholesome and enjoyable first food for your baby! When a baby can start on solids is determined by their own rate of development, which generally comes between 4-6 months of age for purees and or after 6 months for baby-led weaning. Some of the developmental milestones your baby needs to reach in order to start on solids include: if your baby has solid control of their head and neck, if your baby has doubled in weight, and if your baby is reaching for or opening their mouth when you eat (see my guide here). Before you start baby on purees, you should consult with your pediatrician to make sure your child is developmentally ready.
Avocados are usually soft and easy for babies to chew. However, if an avocado is not ripe and ready to eat, the flesh will be harder and more of a risk to your baby. That said, it is best to serve mashed or small strips of avocado. When selecting an avocado for your baby, look for one that is ripe, soft (but not mushy), and has skin that’s easy to press your finger into. A ripe avocado will typically be darker green in color and have bumpy skin.
No, avocado is not a common allergen, however, as with any food, start with a small portion and be aware of any signs that might be an allergic reaction after introducing it.
No, avocado is not known to cause constipation in babies, and it can actually help relieve constipation in babies due to the high fiber content that makes it easier on your baby to pass stools.
Feeding Tips
- Follow your baby’s lead – when feeding purees from a spoon, sometimes there’s a tendency to keep offering bites past the point of your baby being full. Always follow baby’s cues for when they are done eating. Turning away from the spoon, closing her mouth, or pushing food away are all signs that baby is finished with the meal.
- Try adding a little seasoning or spice to purees – babies like flavor! Or consider changing the temperature of purees from time to time, to slightly warmed or slightly chilled. Varying these aspects adds to the sensory experience!
- Place a small amount of puree on the tray during spoon feeding – so that your baby can dip their fingers or hands in the puree. Allowing baby to explore foods in this way helps them learn to self-feed and can help them be more willing to try new textures and foods in the future.
How to Serve Avocado to Baby
There are a variety of ways to prepare avocados for your baby. Here are 4 of my favorite ways:
- Mashed – This is a quick and easy way to make a chunky or smooth puree, ideal for babies 4-6+ months old.
- Sliced with Some Peel Left – When you leave the peel on half of a slice of avocado, you are making a little easy-to-hold handle for your baby. They can hold (or palmar grasp) the peel and then eat the peeled portion. It’s perfect for baby-led weaning (6+ months) or finger foods (9+ months).
- Smooth Puree – When blended with half of a banana, avocado becomes mouthwateringly smooth. This is great for babies 4-6+ months old who love smooth and creamy purees. Plus, it only takes 40 seconds to make.
- Slices Rolled in a Coating – This is another excellent alternative for babies who want to eat with their fingers but need a little help getting a good grip on the avocado slices since avocados can be a little slippery. You can do this option with slices or diced avocados. They’re also ideal for baby-led weaning (6+ months) or finger foods (9+ months).
Looking for more easy baby-led weaning and puree recipes? Then check out my favorite ways to serve apples and bananas to babies!
Mashed Avocado – Smooth or Chunky
Smashed avocado is a hassle-free yet superb way to make a quick chunky or smooth puree. You can serve this to babies 4-6 months and up!
For baby-led weaning, I love to add this rich and thick puree to a slice of toast, pancake, or waffle for babies to self-feed. You can also serve it to them on a self-feeding spoon.
Instructions: Simply peel a quarter or half of a ripe avocado, place it on a cutting board, and mash it with the back of a fork. Mash until just chunky or until smooth. I have found that adding a small teaspoon of breast milk or formula helps make it incredibly creamy.
Avocado for Baby-Led Weaning
There are several ways you can serve avocado to your baby if you are doing baby-led weaning depending on your baby’s age.
6-8 months: cut avocado into thick slices and leave half of the peel on (see photo above) so your baby has an easy-to-grip handle.
8-10 months: slice the avocado into thin slices without the peel.
10-12 months: cut the avocado into small chunks so your baby can practice their pincer grasp.
Avocado Puree with Banana
When you blend avocado and half of a banana, it becomes super-duper smooth. This is ideal for babies who love a rich, smooth, and creamy puree. Plus, it only takes 40 seconds to make!
Instructions: Place half an avocado and half a banana into a small blender or food processor and puree until smooth, adding a tablespoon of breast milk, formula, or water if needed.
Coated Avocado Slices
These coated avocado slices are another healthy option for babies that want to eat with their fingers but need a little help getting a good grip on the avocado slices since avocados can be a little slippery. You can opt for slices or diced avocados as well once your baby has developed their pincer grasp.
Instructions: Slice and peel avocado and roll in hemp seeds, whole wheat bread crumbs or crushed baby puffs.
Or watch a shortened version of this video here.
Get the recipe: Avocado for Baby – Puree & BLW
Ingredients
MASHED AVOCADO – SMOOTH OR CHUNKY
- 1/4 avocado
- 1 tsp breast milk, formula or water (optional)
SLICE OF AVOCADO FOR BABY-LED WEANING
- 1/4 avocado
AVOCADO PUREE WITH BANANA
- 1/2 avocado
- 1/2 banana
COATED AVOCADO SLICES
- 1/4 avocado, sliced and peeled
- 2 tbsp hemp seeds, breadcrumbs or crushed baby puffs
Instructions
MASHED AVOCADO – SMOOTH OR CHUNKY
- Place the avocado on a cutting board, and taking the back of a fork, smash until you get your desired consistency. For a smooth puree, add in the liquid and smash until smooth.
SLICE OF AVOCADO FOR BABY-LED WEANING
- Cut a slice of avocado with the peel on. Using a sharp knife, cut the peel 1/3-1/2 the way up the side of the avocado until you get to the flesh. Do not cut all the way through the avocado slice. Take the peel off and serve the avocado slice to baby with them holding the peel that is still on the avocado.
AVOCADO PUREE WITH BANANA
- Place the avocado and banana in a small blender or food processor. Puree for 1 minute or until smooth, adding in liquid if needed.
COATED AVOCADO SLICES
- Take the sliced and peeled avocado and roll in the hemp seeds, breadcrumbs or crushed baby puffs.
Notes
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11 Comments on “Avocado for Baby (puree & baby-led weaning)”
Hi Michelle,
I love your recipes! I used so many with baby #1 and now baby #2 is starting to eating purees as well. Do you think I can freeze the banana and avocado puree and still have it taste fresh when reheated? Thank you
Great question – I would add just a tiny bit of lemon juice to it so that it doesn’t brown while frozen. And make sure to freeze right after you puree the banana and avocado together.
HI, IM doing bIw with my baby, I was trying to find new ways for him to eat avocado since it’s so slippery. For the coating, can I use the baby rice cereal/oatmeal to coat them or would that not be a good idea?
Thank you so much, my baby loves avocado with egg yolk for breakfast
So glad this tasty and nutritious combination is a hit!
Hi Michele,
If it’s in the fridge can you warm the avocado purée in the microwave? If yes do you make it really hot then let it cool down, or do you lightly warm it in the microwave?
I would recommend slightly warming it up in 20-second intervals, stirring in between, until it’s just warm.
Your recipes are great! My 2nd son, (6 months) absolutely loves avacadoes! I wrote down and will be using all of these recipes! I wasn’t sure if I could add lemon juice to it for some added taste, but I did and he ate the entire thing with no mess!!
Thanks!!
Adding a little lemon juice is a great way to give the avocado a slight citrus taste. Glad he loved these recipes! 🙂
So thorough and helpful!! Thank you to whoever made this
So glad you found this information helpful!