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Pawpaw for Babies: America’s Custard Fruit

North America’s largest native fruit, with soft, custardy flesh that tastes of banana and mango. Rich and sweet, easy to mash, with seeds removed.

When to introduce: Around 6 months
Common allergen?: No (not a common allergen)
Texture: Soft custardy flesh, mashed
Key nutrients: Vitamin C, magnesium, iron

When can babies eat pawpaw?

The pawpaw is North America’s largest native fruit, with soft, custard-like flesh that tastes like a blend of banana and mango. Ripe, it mashes effortlessly. Scoop the flesh away from the large seeds and skin, and offer it from around 6 months.

How to prepare pawpaw for baby-led weaning (BLW) and purées, by age

6 monthsScoop the soft ripe flesh away from the seeds and skin, and mash it smooth. It needs nothing added.

9 monthsOffer small pieces of the soft, seed-free flesh for self-feeding.

12 months+Serve pawpaw flesh on its own or stirred into yogurt.

Is pawpaw safe? Choking & prep

Remove the large seeds and the skin, and serve only the soft flesh, mashed or in small pieces. Use ripe, soft fruit. Not a common allergen.

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Nutrition

Pawpaw provides vitamin C, magnesium, and iron, with a rich, naturally sweet, custardy flesh.

Goes well with

Banana · Yogurt · Oatmeal

Storage & freezing

Pawpaws are very perishable: refrigerate ripe fruit and use within a couple of days, or freeze the scooped flesh.

More fruits to explore

🍑

PeachAround 6 months

🍐

PearAround 6 months

🍈

Pepino melonAround 6 months

🟠

PersimmonAround 8 months

🍍

PineappleAround 9 months

🍌

PlantainAround 6 months

Frequently asked questions

When can babies have pawpaw?

From around 6 months, the soft ripe flesh scooped away from the seeds and skin and mashed.

What is a pawpaw?

North America’s largest native fruit, with soft custardy flesh tasting like banana and mango. It is different from papaya (sometimes also called pawpaw abroad).

Is pawpaw a common allergen?

No, it is not a top-9 allergen. Remove the seeds and introduce like any new food.

Sources

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Last updated July 2026. How we write these: grounded in widely published pediatric guidance (the AAP, WHO, the NIAID 2017 allergen guidelines, and the LEAP study), and pending independent review by a pediatric professional. See our editorial and medical policy for how we research, source, and update these.

This is general information, not medical advice, and has not been individually reviewed 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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