Nectarines for baby? Absolutely! While they may not be one of the very first foods you introduce, nectarines are a delicious way to add some variety to your baby’s menu. Naturally sweet, juicy, and easy to serve as both a puree and a finger food for baby-led weaning, nectarines are one of my favorite fruits to offer during the summer months. Great for babies 6 months and up!

A teal blue kids plate sitting on a white marble counter with different ways to prepare them for baby.

While you can absolutely serve nectarines as a simple puree, both of my babies loved it even more when I added a pinch of cinnamon while the fruit was simmering. The natural sweetness of the nectarines paired with a warm spice is truly a match made in heaven.

For baby-led weaning, start with larger slices of ripe nectarine so your baby can use their palmar grasp to hold and gnaw on them. I found it helpful to leave a little of the peel on for a better grip. You can also roll the slices in finely crushed nuts, unsweetened shredded coconut, or hemp seeds to make them easier for little hands to hold.

#mymomhack – Want to know what’s even better than this puree? Serve it swirled into plain whole milk yogurt! The creamy yogurt pairs perfectly with the sweet nectarine puree and turns it into a snack that babies, toddlers, and parents all love. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself sneaking a spoonful or two.

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Simmered nectarines that are tender and flavored with cinnamon on a white background.
Nectarine purée in a clear blender on a white countertop.
Purple baby plate and gray baby bowl filled with nectarine purée.
A baby food freezer tray full of nectarine purée.

Making nectarine puree is simple! If you have very ripe and juicy nectarines, you can peel, remove the pit, and place the nectarines in a food processor or blender on high. If you have nectarines that are not quite ripe, you can chop them into chunks, add them along with a pinch of cinnamon or cloves to a small saucepan, and bring to a simmer before blending into a smooth puree. I love adding a pinch of clove, nutmeg, or cinnamon to the puree for optimal flavor.

Nectarines for Baby-Led Weaning

Graphic for post - nectarine baby led weaning. Image is of a blue kids plate with different ways to cut and serve nectarines to your baby, with ages for each option.

Nectarines are a nutritious food for your baby to self-feed, whether for baby-led weaning, which happens around 6 months of age, or during the finger foods stage at 9 months.

Halved, ripe (6-9 months): Cut soft, ripe nectarines in half and remove the pit. A larger piece at this age helps your baby pick up this fruit easily. Feel free to leave the edible skin on (to help with grasping this slippery fruit) or you can peel it (and roll in finely crushed nuts, shredded coconut or hemp seeds).

Halved, sliced, or diced (9-12+ months): Halves or slices will still likely be the easiest for your baby to pick up at this stage. If cutting nectarines into smaller pieces to help your baby work on their pincer grasp, you will want to roll them in another ‘crumb’ food as mentioned above.

Halved or whole (18-24 months): Depending on your toddler’s skill level, you can try offering either halved nectarines (pit removed) or a whole one (with the pit) so they can practice taking properly sized bites, chewing and swallowing. You can peel the skin or keep it on, but just know that it’s typical for toddlers to spit out the skin as they’re learning to eat. If offering a whole nectarine, it’s best to model eating one yourself, so that you can show them how to practice eating around this part.

A teal blue kids plate sitting on a white marble counter with different ways to prepare them for baby.

Get the recipe: Nectarine Baby Food: Puree & Baby-Led Weaning

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Nectarines for baby? Absolutely! While they may not be one of the very first foods you introduce, nectarines are a delicious way to add some variety to your baby's menu. Naturally sweet, juicy, and easy to serve as both a puree and a finger food for baby-led weaning, nectarines are one of my favorite fruits to offer during the summer months. Great for babies 6 months and up!
Yield: 3 servings
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 10 minutes
Total: 15 minutes
Author: Michele Olivier
Course: baby food
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Ingredients 

  • 4 nectarines, pitted and chopped
  • 3 tbsp water
  • pinch cinnamon, cloves or nutmeg

Instructions 

  • In a medium saucepan, add the chopped nectarines, water, and cinnamon.
  • Cook over medium-low heat for 10 minutes or until the nectarines are super tender.
  • Transfer all ingredients to a blender and puree for 30-60 seconds or until smooth.

Notes

Age: 6+ months
Yield: 2-3 portions for baby
2-Minute Nectarine Baby Puree: if you have very ripe nectarines, you can simply add them to a blender with a pinch of spice and puree until smooth. 
To Make for Baby-Led Weaning:
  • Halved, ripe (6-9 months): Cut soft, ripe nectarines in half and remove the pit. A larger piece at this age helps your baby pick up this fruit easily. Feel free to leave the edible skin on (to help with grasping this slippery fruit) or you can peel it (and roll in finely crushed nuts, shredded coconut or hemp seeds).
  • Halved, sliced, or diced (9-12+ months): Halves or slices will still likely be the easiest for your baby to pick up at this stage. If cutting nectarines into smaller pieces to help baby work on their pincer grasp, you will want to roll them in another ‘crumb’ food as mentioned above.
  • Halved or whole (18-24 months): Depending on your toddler’s skill level, you can try offering either halved nectarines (pit removed) or a whole one (with the pit) so they can practice taking properly sized bites, chewing and swallowing. You can peel the skin or keep it on, but just know that it’s typical for toddlers to spit out the skin as they’re learning to eat. If offering a whole nectarine, it’s best to model eating one yourself, so that you can show them how to practice eating around this part.
Storage: for the puree – store in an air-tight container in the fridge for up to 4 months or in the freezer for up to 4 months. For baby-led weaning – you can store this recipe in the fridge in an air-tight container for up to 2 days. 
Expert Tips:
  • Pureed and mashed nectarines are also great for adding to yogurt, oatmeal, and other pureed fruits and veggies.
  • To remove the pit from a fresh nectarine, insert a sharp knife into the stem end; slice into halves lengthwise to the pit. Twist the two halves in opposite directions, separate them and remove the pit.

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Medically reviewed and cowritten by Jamie Johnson, Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN), and Lauren Braaten, Pediatric Occupational Therapist (OT).