Updated: Sept 11, 2023
Learn how to make the perfect plum baby food for your little one with our delicious recipes, tips and nutritional information!
Plums may be introduced to your baby from 6 months of age (with your doctor’s consent) or earlier if recommended by your pediatrician… although we actually recommend NOT introducing them as a very first food.
Why?
Well, plums have a mildly laxative effect on the body and may loosen your baby’s stools.
For this reason, plums are RECOMMENDED for curing constipation, but should be AVOIDED if your baby is suffering from diarrhea.
Handy tip…
The laxative effect of plums comes from the isatin, which is contained in the skin.
Therefore, this effect can be reduced significantly by peeling plums before use.
Find out more about whether or not to peel fruits and vegetables for baby
They certainly are!
Plums are a good source of calcium, vitamin A (in the form of beta-carotene), vitamin B2, vitamin C, vitamin E and fibre.
They contain powerful anti-oxidants, which help protect the body against serious diseases like cancer.
Plums are also credited with boosting the body’s ability to absorb iron – probably because of their high vitamin C content.
And, in later life, plums help lower the body’s cholesterol levels, thanks to the soluble fibre (pectin) they contain.
Well, this partly depends on your baby’s preferences, of course, but our little ones have always enjoyed Santa Rosa, Burbank and Victoria plums, which seem to be perfectly sweet and juicy!
Mmm! I love this stuff!
My baby loves this stuff! She is very into (literally) her ‘perfect plums’!
Jen – Charleston, SC, USA
It is important that you use fully ripe plums when preparing your plum baby food recipes. There are two reasons for this…
When you introduce plums to your baby for the first time, it is a good idea to cook them.
Once your baby is enjoying cooked plums, then you might like to try pureeing raw plums (but only if they are fully ripe and sweet).
Find out more about whether or not to cook fruits and vegetables for your baby
If you DO choose to puree raw plums for your baby, bring them to room temperature first – they will taste better and will be more juicy.
Are fresh plums unavailable in your area?
Alternatively…
You may cook plums with the skin on, by cutting an ‘x’ into the skin and placing the plum ‘x’ side down in around an inch of water.
We like to cook plums with both the skin and pit intact, as this seems to preserve their natural sweetness.
Handy tip…
For a super yummy puree, simmer the plums in apple juice instead of water.
Delicious!
Either simmer the whole plum (as described above) or peeled chunks of plum in around an inch of water until tender (4-8 mins).
Drain (reserving the cooking water) and puree the plum by pushing through a sieve or using a food processor.
Add back a little cooking water if necessary, to create the perfect texture for your baby.
Allergy to plums is rare – nevertheless, there is always the possibility that any individual can be allergic to ANY food.
When introducing plums to your baby, remember to follow the four day rule to help you identify any potential digestive problems or allergic reactions.
There are two types of allergy to plums…
Individuals with an allergy to birch pollen may also be allergic to plums, because there is a protein in plums that is similar to a protein in birch pollen.
The symptoms, which usually appear within 5-15 minutes of the plums being eaten, include inflammation or itching of the mouth and/or throat (known as oral allergy syndrome).
Cooking destroys this allergen, so people with birch pollen allergy can usually eat cooked plums.
The other type of plum allergy is often associated with an allergy to peach and triggers more severe symptoms, including
This allergen is NOT destroyed by cooking – so even cooked plums are unsafe – and the reaction is often worse if the skin is eaten along with the flesh.
Plums are great served alone, mixed with other fruits… and even used in savoury dishes!
Here are some tasty plum baby food ideas…
4 plums
apple juice
cinnamon
8 oz (1 cup) pork loin
4 oz (1/2 cup) ripe plums, skin and stone removed
3 fl oz (3/8 cup) apple juice
little pinch of dried sage
For the potato gnocchi…
12 oz (1 1/2 cups) potato, peeled and sliced
1 oz (1/8 cup) flour
To prepare the gnocchi…
4 oz (1/2 cup) fresh plums, peeled, pitted and chopped
3 oz (1/3 cup) pureed peach
5 oz (2/3 cup) homemade yogurt
drop vanilla essence
4 plums
vanilla pod
1 tsp unsalted butter
pure maple syrup
homemade yogurt