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 4-6 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)
Avocado for Baby
Avocados 🥑 are one of my all-time favorite foods for baby!
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!
Top 3 Reasons to Serve Avocado to Baby
- Avocados are beyond healthy for babies. They contain healthy fats that help your baby’s brain grow!
- 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.
When to Introduce Avocados to Baby
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.
How to Serve Avocado to Baby
There are a variety of ways to prepare avocados for baby. Here are 4 of my favorite ones:
- Smashed – 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!
ARE AVOCADOS A CHOKING HAZARD FOR BABIES?
No, avocados are not typically included among the foods that are a common choking hazard for babies since 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.
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 smash it with the back of a fork. Smash until just chunky or until smooth. I have found that adding a small teaspoon of breastmilk or formula helps make it incredibly creamy.
Slice of Avocado for Baby-Led Weaning
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 the avocado peel part with their palmar grasp and then eat the peeled portion of the avocado. You will want to help your baby by placing the peel portion in their hand during their first avocado meal.
Instructions: Cut a slice off of a ripe avocado with the peel still intact. Using a knife, gently cut through the peel until you reach the flesh of the avocado, but don’t cut all the way through. Peel off half of the peel. Babies can grip the peel for a more convenient holding and eating experience.
Avocado Puree with Banana
When you blend avocado and a 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 breastmilk, 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.
More Avocado Recipes
- 5-Minute Banana, Blueberry and Avocado Baby Food Puree
- Egg Yolk + Avocado Baby Food Puree
- Spinach Avocado Breakfast Cereal for Baby
- Pear, Avocado, + Kiwi Baby Food Puree
- Avocado Green Smoothie for Baby + Toddler
- Avocado Blueberry Muffins for Baby + Toddler
Avocado for Baby – 4 Delicious Ways
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.
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?