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Can Babies Eat Dried Apricots? Simmer Soft First

Dried apricots are iron-rich and sweet, but sticky and chewy, a choking risk, so simmer them soft and puree or finely chop them from around 9 months.

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When to introduce
Around 9 months
Common allergen?
No (not a common allergen)
Texture
Simmered soft, then pureed or finely chopped
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 simmer them soft and puree them or chop them finely. Fresh out of the bag, uncooked, whole or in pieces, is the version to skip until about age 4.

⚠️ Dried apricots are sticky, firm, and chewy, which makes them a choking risk for babies, so simmer them soft and puree or finely chop them, and skip uncooked pieces until about age 415.

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 until they are simmered soft and then pureed or finely chopped, 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

9 monthsDried apricots are not a good early finger food on their own because they are sticky and chewy. Stir finely minced apricot, simmered until very soft, into a food your baby is already self-feeding, like oatmeal or mashed banana, so there is no firm piece to gum.
12 months+Offer very finely chopped dried apricot, simmered until very soft, mixed into a scoopable food. Small simmered pieces can go on the tray as chewing improves, but uncooked pieces wait until about age 4, so keep them soft and small and stay within arm's reach.

🥄 Purées

9 monthsSimmer the apricots in water until very soft, then puree smooth. Stir the puree into yogurt, oatmeal, or another puree so it is easy to spoon.
12 months+Offer apricot puree on a spoon or swirled into a thicker mash. Finely minced simmered apricot can also be folded in. Keep serving dried apricot simmered soft, as a puree or finely minced into other foods, until about age 4.

Are dried apricots safe? Choking & prep

The CDC lists uncooked dried fruit among choking hazards for young children, and dried apricots are small, firm, sticky, and chewy all at once, so simmer them in water until very soft, then puree them or chop them finely rather than serving uncooked pieces1. The USDA lists dried fruit among the foods that put children under 4 at high risk of choking, so uncooked pieces wait until about age 45. Choosing softer, moister dried apricots and offering them alongside water or a spoonable food also helps them go down easily.

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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. Simmer and puree only what you need for a serving. Leftover apricot puree keeps 1 to 2 days in the fridge, or 1 to 2 months in the freezer.2 Freeze it in an ice cube tray.

More fruits to explore

🟡
DurianAround 6 months, seed removed
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ElderberryAround 9 months, cooked and strained only
🥝
FeijoaAround 6 months
🟤
FigAround 6 months
🍋
Finger limeAround 6 months
🍈
Gac fruitAround 9 months, small amounts

Related reading

Common questions

When can babies eat dried apricots?

Around 9 months, simmered soft and then pureed or finely chopped, since dried apricots are sticky and chewy and a choking risk. Uncooked pieces, whole or chopped, wait until about age 4.

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. Simmering them until very soft, then pureeing or finely chopping them, solves this.

How do I serve dried apricots safely?

Simmer them in water until very soft, then puree them or chop them finely and stir them into oatmeal or yogurt. Do not give uncooked pieces, whole or chopped, until about age 4.

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 simmered soft and pureed or finely chopped, 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. Most people have no trouble with them, but they can trigger asthma symptoms such as wheezing in some people, and people with asthma are the most likely to react.3 If your child has asthma, or you would rather skip them, choose unsulfured apricots, which are naturally darker brown. In the US, sulfites must be listed on the label when a food has 10 parts per million or more.4

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 simmering soft and pureeing or fine chopping 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, simmered soft and 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 simmer them soft and puree or finely chop them before serving.

Sources

  1. CDC: Choking Hazards (Infant and Toddler Nutrition)
  2. FoodSafety.gov: Children Under Five, Safe Storage of Puréed and Solid Baby Food (homemade baby foods: 1 to 2 days refrigerated, 1 to 2 months frozen)
  3. Health Canada: Sulphites, a priority food allergen (can trigger asthma; dried apricots are a common source)
  4. FDA: Food Allergies (sulfites must be declared on the label at 10 ppm or more)
  5. USDA Food and Nutrition Service: Reducing the Risk of Choking in Young Children at Mealtimes (FNS-877)

Further reading

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Last 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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