Overview
Fun Fact: Did you know that the high levels of vitamin C in kiwi may reduce asthma symptoms in children? (1)
If you think that’s pretty cool, well, here are more fun kiwi facts for you:
Kiwifruit, more commonly referred to as kiwi, is one of the top foods with the least pesticide residues. (2)
On top of that, kiwis are highly nutritious and contain high levels of vitamin K, potassium, and fiber. It also contains zero cholesterol and has low levels of fat and calories. (3)
In this article, we’ll be discussing ways to safely introduce kiwi for baby-led weaning, talk about kiwi’s nutrition value and health benefits, food safety risks, buying and storage tips, and a few yummy kiwi recipes (including a smoothie) your baby and the whole family will enjoy.
What’s BLW?
BLW (baby-led weaning) is a self-feeding approach where your baby takes the lead at mealtimes. Dr. Gill Rapley, BLW pioneer, advocates shared family meals as part of this feeding approach. (4)
When Can Babies Eat Kiwi?
The AAP (The American Academy of Pediatrics) states that solid foods can be introduced to babies starting at six months of age as a complement to breast milk or infant formula. (5)
Top Reasons To Serve Kiwi In BLW
It’s Highly Nutritious
A cup or 180 grams of fresh green kiwi contains: (3)
Calories: 104
Fat: 0.8g (1% of the Daily Value)
Carbs: 25g (9% of the DV)
Fiber: 5.4g (19% of the DV)
Protein: 1.9g (4% of the DV)
Calcium: 63mg (5% of the DV)
Potassium: 356mg (8% of the DV)
Folate: 46.8mcg (12% of the DV)
Vitamin C: 134.5mg (149% of the DV)
Vitamin K: 72.5mcg (60% of the DV)
Copper: 0.24mg (27% of the DV)
It’s Loaded With Health Benefits
Kiwis also contain iron, vitamin E, and vitamin A, no cholesterol, and are low in fat and calories.
Fresh kiwis are high in vitamin C, which functions as an antioxidant in the body to protect against cell damage. Vitamin C is also essential for boosting the immune system and better iron absorption. (6)
Additionally, the vitamin K rich in kiwis is important for blood clotting and healthier bones, while copper is essential for brain development. (7) (8)
Kiwis are also high in dietary fiber, which is important for maintaining a healthy gut and preventing constipation. (9)
Food Safety With Kiwi
Is Kiwi A Choking Hazard?
Kiwis can be choking hazards because of their firm and slippery flesh. To reduce choking risks, make sure to serve ripe kiwis, which are softer, and make sure that it’s served according to your baby’s age.
Important: Never use a melon ball scooper when serving fruits to babies, as doing so poses a high choking risk. (10)
Is Kiwi A Common Allergen?
Kiwi allergy is slowly becoming common. Mild kiwi allergy symptoms include sore mouth and swelling of the lips, while severe allergy symptoms include wheeze, blue lips, and collapse, which have been found to more likely occur in young children than people over 15 years old. (11)
Additionally, kiwi allergy has been found to be a new manifestation of birch pollen allergy by cross-reacting antigens in the kiwi fruit. (12)
As always, when introducing new food for the first time, start by serving a small quantity to easily observe any allergic reactions.
Is It OK To Eat Kiwi Skin?
Kiwi skin may be too tough for babies to handle, so it’s best to serve kiwi with the peel off. To remove the skin, simply slice the kiwi, scoop out the flesh, then cut in an age-appropriate way before serving to your little one.
Does Kiwi Make Babies Poop?
Yes. The high levels of dietary fiber in kiwi help regulate bowel movements. (9)
Are Kiwi Seeds Bad For Babies?
Kiwi seeds are edible and are too small to be choking hazards.
How Do You Cut A Kiwi For Baby Led Weaning?
6-8 Months Old:
Cut in half or quarters, then serve peeled.
8-10 Months Old:
At this age, your baby’s pincer grasp will develop, enabling them to grab small pieces of food using their thumb and index finger. If not, you can keep serving your baby kiwi cut in quarters.
10-12+ Months Old:
You can try serving bite-sized pieces as finger food or with a pre-loaded fork.
Other Kiwi FAQs
Can I Give Kiwi To My 6 Month Old Baby?
Yes. You can add kiwi into your baby’s diet in the form of puree or by slicing it into easy-to-grab pieces.
How Do I Give My 7 Month Old Kiwi?
Kiwi can be included in your baby’s first foods in puree form or by slicing it in half or quarters.
Is Kiwi Good For 8 Months Baby?
Absolutely! Kiwi is packed with essential nutrients your growing baby needs.
Can Babies Under 1-Year-Old Have Kiwi?
Yes. Most babies can have meat, veggies, and fruits like kiwi from six months of age or when they are developmentally ready for solids. (5)
Other Foods To Mix With Kiwi
Kiwis like strawberries can be added to smoothies along with other fruits like blueberries, raspberries, papayas, and bananas. The acidity of kiwi also pairs well with yogurt and coconut.
How To Choose And Store Kiwi
Choose kiwis that are slightly firm when gently squeezed, and the skin must be rough and fuzzy.
Store kiwis in multiple ways. You can peel, dice, then individually freeze on a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Frozen kiwis can last up to three months. Kiwis can also be stored as jams or even dried. (13) (14)
2 Easy Baby Food Recipes With Kiwi
Kiwi, Spinach, & Apple Smoothie Recipe
In a blender, combine the following ingredients and blend until smooth:
- Half a cup of coconut yogurt
- ¼ cup water
- One cup cooked spinach (let cool before adding)
- One ripe kiwi
- ½ apple
- ¼ teaspoon of cinnamon powder
- One scoop grass-fed collagen peptides
- 1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 teaspoon flax seeds (whole)
- 1 tsp hemp seeds
- 1 tsp chia seeds
Kiwi Oatmeal
Cook half a cup of gluten-free oats in water or milk (breastmilk, formula, dairy-free milk, etc.) for five minutes. Constantly stirring until thick. Remove from the fire, then cool. Mash ¼ cup of kiwis and mix with the oatmeal. Cut another ¼ cup of kiwis in age-appropriate sizes, then serve separately or as a topping.
Other Helpful BLW Tools For Mealtime
REFERENCES:
(1) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10722767/
(2) https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/summary.php
(3) https://www.nutritionvalue.org/Kiwi_fruit%2C_raw_63126500_nutritional_value.html
(4) http://rapleyweaning.com/assets/Defining_BLW_v2.pdf
(5) https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/feeding-nutrition/Pages/Starting-Solid-Foods.aspx
(6) https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminC-Consumer/
(7) https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/VitaminK-Consumer/
(8) https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Copper-Consumer/
(9) https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6267416/
(10) https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/infantandtoddlernutrition/foods-and-drinks/choking-hazards.html
(11) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15248859/
(12) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12440950/
(13) https://fruitsandveggies.org/expert-advice/kiwi-store-select-prepare/
(14) https://www.freezeit.co.uk/can-you-freeze-kiwi/#