Food guide
Papaya
Papaya can be introduced around 6 months when ripe. Its soft, sweet flesh and digestive enzymes are ideal for babies.
How to serve at this age
6-9 months: Mash ripe papaya or offer soft pieces. 9-12 months: Serve cubes as finger food. 12-24 months: Offer slices or include in fruit salads.
Nutrition
Excellent source of vitamin C and vitamin A. Contains papain enzyme that aids digestion. Rich in folate.
A note from the editors
A ripe papaya is mostly yellow/orange with slight give. Green papaya is unripe and not suitable for babies.
Good to know
Remove all seeds. Choose ripe papaya that gives to gentle pressure. Unripe papaya contains latex.
This guide is also published on Avo Parenting. Read the Papaya guide