From the YummyYucky team, founded by Nancy Nash
Can Babies Eat Dried Apricots? Chop Small
Dried apricots are iron-rich and sweet, but sticky and chewy, a choking risk, so chop very small or soak and puree from around 9 months.
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- When to introduce
- Around 9 months
- Common allergen?
- No (not a common allergen)
- Texture
- Chopped very small, or soaked and pureed
- Key nutrients
- Iron, fiber, potassium
Can babies eat dried apricots? Yes, around 9 months, with one important step first. Dried apricots are an inexpensive, shelf-stable, iron-rich fruit that packs a lot of sweetness and nutrition into a tiny piece, which makes them a handy pantry staple. The catch is texture: dried apricots are sticky and chewy, which makes them a choking risk for babies. So they are a wonderful food once you chop them very small or soak and cook them soft and puree them. Fresh out of the bag, in whole or large pieces, is the version to skip until much later.
Why it matters: A fruit that is soft when fresh turns firm, chewy, and sticky once dried, so dried apricots carry a real choking risk that chopping very small or pureeing removes, which is why the same fruit deserves two different rules.
Prep School: how to prepare dried apricots for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées
🍴 Baby-led weaning
🥄 Purées
Are dried apricots safe? Choking & prep
The CDC and choking-prevention guidance flag small, firm, sticky, or chewy foods as choking risks for babies and toddlers, and dried apricots are all of those at once, so chop them very small or soak and puree them rather than serving whole or large pieces1. Choosing softer, moister dried apricots and offering them alongside water or a spoonable food also helps them go down easily.
Trying dried apricots today? Log the first taste and tap yummy, meh, or yucky, saved with the date, so future you remembers how the little iron-rich fruit went over.
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Nutrition
Dried apricots are a genuinely nutritious little package. They are one of the more iron-rich fruits, which matters from around 6 to 9 months as a baby's own iron stores start to run down, and the vitamin C in fruit on the same plate helps that iron absorb. They also bring fiber and potassium. That fiber, along with the natural sorbitol in dried fruit, is why dried apricots (like prunes) have a gentle stool-softening reputation that can help if your baby is a bit backed up. Some dried apricots contain sulfites as a preservative, which keeps them bright orange; unsulfured apricots are darker and a fine choice if you prefer to skip them.
Goes well with
Oatmeal · Plain yogurt · Iron-fortified baby cereal · Pear · Chicken or lentils
Storage & freezing
Keep dried apricots in a sealed container or resealable bag in a cool, dry cupboard, where they stay good for months; refrigerating them extends the life and keeps them softer. Soak or cook and puree only what you need for a serving, and store any leftover apricot puree in the fridge for about three days or freeze it in an ice cube tray for up to three months.
More fruits to explore
Related reading
- Best first fruits for babies →
- How to cut food to prevent choking →
- Signs your baby is ready for solids →
- Baby-led weaning vs. purées →
Common questions
When can babies eat dried apricots?
Around 9 months, chopped very small or soaked and pureed, since dried apricots are sticky and chewy and a choking risk. Whole or large pieces are not safe for babies.
Why are dried apricots a choking risk?
Drying makes the fruit firm, chewy, and sticky, so a piece can be hard for a baby to break down with gums and can cling in the mouth. Chopping very small or soaking and pureeing solves this.
How do I serve dried apricots safely?
Chop them very small, or soak and cook them soft and puree them, then stir into oatmeal or yogurt. Do not give whole or large pieces to a baby.
Can dried apricots help with constipation?
Yes. Their fiber and natural sorbitol can soften stools, which is useful during constipation, much like prunes. Offer them chopped very small or pureed, with plenty of fluids.
Are dried apricots a common allergen?
No, dried apricots are not a common allergen. As with any new food, offer a small amount the first time and watch how your baby responds.
What are sulfites in dried apricots, and should I worry?
Sulfites are a preservative that keeps dried apricots bright orange. They are not a common allergy, but if you prefer to skip them, choose unsulfured apricots, which are naturally darker brown.
Are dried apricots or fresh apricots better for my baby?
Both are great. Fresh ripe apricot is softer and easier to serve early. Dried apricots are more concentrated in iron and fiber but need chopping small or pureeing because of the sticky, chewy texture.
How much dried apricot can a baby have?
A small amount is plenty, since dried fruit is concentrated and its fiber and sorbitol can loosen stools. Start with a little minced or pureed into other food and see how your baby does.
Can dried apricots stain or change my baby's stool?
They can make stools a bit softer thanks to their fiber and sorbitol, and you may notice deeper color from the fruit. This is normal and not a cause for concern.
Do I need to buy organic or a special baby brand?
No. Regular dried apricots are fine. Just check for a soft, moist texture, skip any added sugar or candied coatings, and chop very small or puree before serving.
Sources
Further reading
- American Academy of Pediatrics (HealthyChildren.org): Starting Solid Foods
- CDC: Foods and Drinks to Encourage and Limit
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Start tracking for freeLast updated September 2026. Next review December 2026. How we write these: built from current published guidance from the AAP, CDC, FDA/EPA, NIAID, WHO, and other pediatric and public-health authorities, with sources cited on the page. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these, and how we double-check the food advice.
This is general information, not medical advice, and is not individualized for your baby. Always talk to your pediatrician about your baby's diet, introducing allergens, and any reaction. In an emergency, contact emergency services.
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